The chicken pox vaccine, which is more formally referred to as the varicella vaccine, is a type of immunization administered to prevent the development of chickenpox in treated patients. Chickenpox is an infection caused by a virus called varicella-zoster and is a common infection in children under the age of 12. Typically, the chicken pox vaccine is administered as an injection in children between the ages of 12 and 15 months followed by a booster shot between ages 4 and 6, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parents or guardians should discuss the potential symptoms and side effects associated with the chicken pox vaccination prior to having their child immunized.
Injection Site Reaction
The chicken pox vaccine is traditionally administered as an injection in the upper portion of the arm. Patients who receive the chickenpox vaccine can develop injection site reaction symptoms as a side effect of immunization. These symptoms can include redness, soreness or swelling at the injection site. Injection of this vaccine into the arm can also lead to arm stiffness, which may affect a patient's ability to move the affected arm normally. These chicken pox vaccine symptoms prove temporary but may persist for a few days following immunization.
Flu-like Symptoms
Patients who receive the chicken pox vaccine can develop flu-like symptoms following this preventative treatment. Flu-like symptoms can include fever, body aches, fatigue or nausea. The CDC reports that approximately 10 percent of treated patients develop a low-grade fever after receiving this vaccine. Children who receive a vaccination may also become unusually fussy or irritable as a result of these flu-like symptoms. These side effects of the chicken pox vaccination can arise shortly after treatment and generally resolve within a few days. Patients who experience persistent or severe flu-like symptoms after administration of the chicken pox vaccine, should seek medical attention for further evaluation and care.
Skin Rash
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that approximately 7 to 8 percent of patients who are immunized with the chicken pox vaccine develop a skin rash following treatment. The affected skin region can appear unusually red or irritated--symptoms that may be localized to the site of injection. Small bumps or pus-filled skin lesions--called pimples--can develop across the skin and may become uncomfortable or begin to itch. These skin rash symptoms may emerge up to a month following receipt of the chicken pox vaccination and may persist for several days before resolving.
