Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/ask-dr.-sue-chicken-pox-vaccine-and-new-video-series-on-health-and-safety/5010424/
Chicken Pox (Varicella) VaccineIn 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 wait 30 days to receive the other shot. This is because some people may increase their resistance to infection for a short period after their bodies respond to one live virus vaccine. This increased resistance may prevent infection by another live virus vaccine given 1-30 days after the ...