Ask Dr. Sue - Chicken Pox Vaccine and New Video Series on Health and Safety

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Chicken Pox (Varicella) Vaccine

In March 1995, the Federal Food and Drug Administration approved a long-awaited vaccine to protect against chicken pox. The first doses of the frozen, weakened, live virus vaccine have reached health professionals. Immunization against chicken pox should be available in most communities soon.

The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all children routinely receive chicken pox vaccine between 12 and 18 months of age. In this age group, even those whose families think they have already had chicken pox should be vaccinated.

Generally, children will receive the vaccine at the same check-up that they get the vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). For now, doctors will give chicken pox vaccine and MMR as two separate shots in two different spots. If the child does not get chicken pox vaccine and MMR on the same day, the child must ...