Varicella Vaccine Second-Dose Found Safe

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study confirms that the second dose of the varicella vaccine “is safe and poses no new safety concerns for patients”.

This CDC study was conducted by reviewing second-dose varicella reports made to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System from 2006 to 2014.

Only 3% of the reported adverse events were classified as serious.

To improve control of varicella, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in 2006 advised a routine two-dose varicella vaccination program in place of the previous one-dose recommendation.

This vaccine’s first dose is given at ages 12 to 15 months, and a second dose at ages four to six years.

Additionally, a separate two-dose vaccination for other individuals who are without evidence of immunity, may be needed.

The chickenpox vaccine is a shot that is about 90% effective at preventing chickenpox.

It's also called the varicella vaccine, because chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

This virus causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. Chickenpox used to be very common in the United States. In the early 1990s, chickenpox caused about 4 million cases, about 10,600 hospitalizations and 100 to 150 deaths each year.

However, since the introduction of the varicella vaccination, more than 3.5 million cases of varicella, 9,000 hospitalizations, and 100 deaths are prevented in the United States.

The vaccine is made from a live but weakened, or attenuated, virus.

The CDC recommended cost of the vaccinations can be found here.

After receiving the vaccination, if you believe there is a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, report the reaction to your doctor.

Your doctor might file this VAERS report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS website. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines.

The study’s authors called the results "reassuring" and said there were no new or unexpected safety concerns from the 2-dose varicella vaccine.

Author Information: John R. Su, MD, PhD, MPH, Zanie Leroy, MD, MPH, Paige W. Lewis, MSPH, Penina Haber, MPH, Mona Marin, MD, Jessica Leung, MPH, Emily Jane Woo, MD, MPH, Tom T. Shimabukuro, MD, MPH, MBA.

No conflicts of interest were disclosed.