In 1995, a chickenpox vaccine was licensed. In 2011, some parents are still hesitant to give the vaccine to their children. They remember chickenpox as an inconvenient but harmless illness that causes a few days of fever and itchy sores that is part of childhood. Unfortunately, chickenpox is not always a minor, inconvenient illness. Each year in the U.S., 12,000 persons are hospitalized and 100 persons die from complications of varicella because they are not immunized. This may be a small percentage of the persons getting chickenpox but, unfortunately, no one can predict which children will have mild symptoms and which children will have life-threatening symptoms.

After 16 years of use, chickenpox vaccine has proven to be very safe and very effective when two doses are given. The first dose is given at 12 months of age and the second at 5 years of age. Any child or adult who has not been previously immunized against chickenpox can also receive the vaccine- two doses separated by three months. Persons who have had chickenpox disease are immune and do not need vaccinated.

Getting the vaccine is safer than getting the disease because the virus used in the vaccine is a weakened virus which results in immunity but no risky side effects. Side effects after the vaccine can include mild fever and mild soreness at the injection site. For four to six weeks after the vaccination, the person may develop a mild case of chickenpox. This is not contagious and is not accompanied by fever. About one percent of persons who have received the chickenpox vaccine have developed “breakthrough” infection later in life. It is not known why this occurs, but there are no blisters, no fever and no serious complications.

Chickenpox is not just an itchy contagious rash. Chickenpox can cause serious problems. Get your children vaccinated against this disease. Call the health department at 330-674-5035 for more information.