Before the development of the chicken pox vaccination, varicella infected approximately 4 million people -- mostly children -- each year just in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chicken pox vaccination has drastically reduced these infections, but it does have the potential to produce some side effects in children, most of them mild. If your child develops any of these side effects, let her health care provider know immediately.
Chicken Pox Facts
The chicken pox, or varicella, vaccination provides protection from chicken pox, a contagious condition characterized by an itchy rash and fluid-filled blisters that spread across the body. This common childhood disease results from a virus called varicella-zoster that typically produces symptoms 10 to 21 days after a child is exposed to an infected person. Most children fight off the infection adequately on their own, but some occasionally develop rare complications, including encephalitis, pneumonia and Reye's syndrome. Once infected, your child's body always contains the virus, which sometimes re-activates in adulthood, producing a similar rash-causing viral infection called shingles.
Chicken Pox Vaccination
Children typically need to receive two doses of the chicken pox vaccination to develop immunity to the disease. Your pediatrician generally gives the first dose when your child is 12 to 15 months, then administers the second dose when she is age 4 to 6. Although it doesn't keep all children from getting a varicella infection, the chicken pox vaccination prevents infection in 80 to 90 percent of those who receive the full series of doses, according to CDC data.
Minor Side Effects
As with any vaccination, the chicken pox vaccine might cause various mild side effects, including temporary skin problems. These can include redness, soreness and swelling at the site of the injection. Vaccinated children also sometimes develop a slight skin rash within three weeks of receiving the immunization. The rash typically is localized and usually consists of fewer than 10 individual spots. Approximately 15 percent of children who receive the vaccination suffer from a short-term fever during the 24 to 48 hours following the injection.
Serious Side Effects
Severe side effects linked to the chicken pox vaccination are extremely rare, notes Dr. Jeffrey Dover, coauthor of "The Encyclopedia of Skin and Skin Disorders." Potentially serious problems that could develop include febrile seizures and pneumonia. Because of the potential for anaphylactic shock, a child who has a known allergy to gelatin or neomycin should never receive the chicken pox vaccination. If your child develops any signs of anaphylactic shock, such as facial swelling, breathing problems or blue skin, arrange for immediate medical treatment at an emergency room or doctor's office.
References
- "Parents Guide to Childhood Vaccinations"; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2007
- MedlinePlus: Chickenpox
- MedlinePlus: Chickenpox Vaccination
- "The Encyclopedia of Skin and Skin Disorders"; Dr. Jeffrey Dover, et al.; 2006
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