The Disease: Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease. It produces a fever, decreased energy and a characteristic rash. In rare cases chicken pox can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling) or death.
The Vaccine: The chickenpox vaccine is 95 percent effective against severe disease. A small percentage of children who respond to the vaccine will still develop mild disease.
Side effects
- Fever.
- Soreness, redness, discomfort at site of injection.
- A chickenpox-like rash (around five lesions) at the injection site or elsewhere on the body.
For more information on this vaccine, the Center for Disease Control has a handout available- click here
Click here for the CDC's Vaccine Information Sheet on the Chicken Pox Vaccine
