Chicken Pox Vaccine – Are we all condemned to suffer from chicken pox at some point in our lives? In the past, parents were recommended to expose their children to somebody suffering from chickenpox so that they could get it as children. We all know that the disease is milder in children. But the fact is that in a few children there are complications that are mostly related to infections (usually in the skin and subcutaneous tissue, and even more sadly, some children will die of the disease.

Things have changed dramatically with the widespread use of chickenpox vaccine! When you vaccinate yourself and your family, you not only protect them but even protect others!!(there are some individuals who cannot receive the vaccine)
The IAP and the CDC, both recommend two doses of the chickenpox vaccine for all children and healthy adults who have not received the vaccine or have had shingles. All women in child-bearing age must be immunized with chickenpox vaccine as even if the mother gets mild disease during pregnancy, she can lose her fetus or have a severely malformed fetus due to the disease affecting the unborn child.

Schedule

FOR CHILDREN

First dose: 15-18 months
Second dose: 4-6 years (may be given earlier if there is a gap of at least 3 months between the two doses)

FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

2 doses at least 28 days apart.

For People who have received an incomplete course before

Catch up vaccination involves one or two doses depending on how old the person is. Consult your doctor about when and how many doses to give.

Avoid or delay chickenpox vaccine in:

• If you have had allergic reaction to the vaccine in the past or who isallergic to gelatin or neomycin
• Anybody who is suffering from a serious illness
• Pregnant women – wait till after childbirth. Avoid getting pregnant for at least a month after receiving the vaccine.
• Anybody suffering from low immunity or has been transplanted
• Anybody receiving treatment for cancer(either drugs or radiation), onhigh dose steroids or if you have received any blood products in the last 5 months.

Effectiveness of the Vaccine

Breakthrough infections develops only in as few as 0 – 0.8% of children who receive two doses of vaccine. In adults too, the efficacy is as high as 75-80%. Even those, who do get it, get a much milder form of the disease, with fewer blisters, lower fever, and a more rapid recovery.

Possible side-effects of the vaccine

There is nothing in life that does not have any side-effects. However the risk of complications and dying from the disease itself is much more than the risk of serious side-effects from the vaccine. Reactions are commoner after the first dose than after the second one.

MILD SIDE-EFFECTS

• Local soreness at the site of injection (1 in 5, slightly more common in adolescents and adults) – responds well to simple pain-killers.
• Fever that is usually mild (1 in 10).
• Fleeting and mild rash (1 in 25). Theoretically such a person can infect other people in the family – so best to vaccinate all people in the family at the same time.

MODERATE SIDE-EFFECTS

Convulsions (Jerky movements or staring spells – very rare)

SEVERE SIDE-EFFECTS

• Pneumonias – extremely rare
• Allergic Reactions – hives, rashes or breathing difficulty, swelling of face or throat or dizziness or weakness – contact your doctor immediately