Chickenpox is a disease that occurs when the body is first infected with a virus called varicella-zoster virus (VZV). When chickenpox gradually goes away, the virus will incubate in the sensory ganglia of the body. When the body's immunity weakenss, the virus will reactivate again and distributes along nerves on the skin surface and produce symptoms, which is called herpes zoster.

Infected people are mostly children with mild symptoms and a few patients may have serious complications. Because varicella zoster virus can be transmitted through direct skin contact, droplets or air, the probability of transmission among members of the same family is greater than 85%. In addition, the older the patients first infected with chickenpox, the more serious the symptoms are. Therefore, the prevention of chickenpox is more important for adults or the elderly who have not had chickenpox before.

Vaccination suggestions

In Taiwan, children born after January 1, 2003 will receive a free dose of varicella vaccine after reaching the age of one. For adolescents over 13 years of age and adults, vaccination is recommended for those who have not been infected with chickenpox or who have no varicella antibody. For adults under 60 years of age, if they are not sure if they have been infected with varicella, they may first test their antibodies or choose to receive the vaccine directly, because having been infected with varicella is not a contraindication for vaccination. According to the survey, almost all adults over 60 years of age have been infected with varicella-zoster virus, so this kind of population can consider vaccination against herpes zoster.

Patients receiving general intramuscular immunoglobulin therapy or HBIG should be re-inoculated 3 months later; those who have received blood transfusion should be re-inoculated 6 months later; those who have received intravenous injection of plasma, platelet products or intravenous injection of high-dose immunoglobulin should be re-inoculated 11 months later.

Contraindications to vaccination

People known to be allergic to gelatin, neomycin or other components of vaccines, people with low immune function, those who are using immunosuppressants or high doses of adrenocorticosteroids, pregnant women or women who are expected to become pregnant, patients who have received immunoglobulin or blood transfusion recently.

Possible side effects and vaccine response after injection

• After vaccination, please take a rest under observation for 30 minutes. If there is no discomfort, you can leave hospital.
• The most common side effects are pain, soreness, redness and swelling at the site of injection, which are mild and will go away soon. Sometimes a slight fever may occur. About 3% of the people may have small papules similar to chickenpox at the site of administration.

Reminders

• The Department of Health recommends that pregnancy be avoided within one month after vaccination.
• Avoid using a drug similar to salicylic acid (e.g. aspirin) within six weeks of taking the varicella vaccine.
• Since the varicella vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, other live attenuated vaccines (e.g. MMR vaccines) should be administered simultaneously (at different sites) or at least four weeks apart.
• After vaccination, please drink more water and get plenty of rest to reduce discomfort. If you have any questions, please return to the hospital.