Varicella Virus Vaccine

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against varicella (chickenpox).
• After a person receives this vaccine, the person may be able to pass the virus to other people. Avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with bone marrow disease, HIV, or people having cancer treatments.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Do not use products that contain aspirin or salicylates for at least 6 weeks after the vaccination. Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: varicella virus vaccine, injection; Varivax

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a vaccine given by injection (a shot) to provide protection against varicella (chickenpox). It is given to people who have never had chickenpox. This vaccine may not protect everyone who gets the vaccine. It does not treat an infection that has already started.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine or vaccine, or to gelatin
• A blood disorder, leukemia, lymphoma, or any cancer affecting your bone marrow or lymph system, or if you receive blood or plasma transfusions or treatment with immune globulin
• A weakened immune system from cancer treatment, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, or from taking steroid medicines or medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Tuberculosis

Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have an infection of any kind. If you are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. If you have a mild cold or mild infection, you may still be able to get your shot. Talk to your healthcare provider about this. Tell your healthcare provider about any other immunizations or tuberculin skin test you have had or are scheduled to receive.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not receive this vaccine if you are pregnant. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine. Do not become pregnant for 3 months after receiving the varicella vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by your healthcare provider. The vaccine is usually given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and a second dose at age 4 to 6 years. It may be given earlier, if at least 3 months after the first dose. It can be given to older children if they have not had the vaccine or had chickenpox yet. Adults and children age 13 or older should get 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. Adults who have previously received only 1 dose should get a second dose.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how many shots you will need and when you should get them. Get all the shots on schedule to provide complete protection. Keep a record of when each vaccine was last given. If a shot is missed, contact your healthcare provider right away and schedule another appointment for the shot.

This vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

This vaccine can cause a fever of 102°F, or 38.9°C or higher. If the fever continues or gets worse, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Do not use products that contain aspirin or salicylates for at least 6 weeks after the vaccination. Aspirin could cause a serious reaction called Reye's syndrome if taken during the immunization period or during active chickenpox. Your healthcare provider may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help lower a fever or to relieve any pain or discomfort.

This medicine may cause pain, tenderness, irritation, rash, or swelling on the skin where injections were given. The pain or tenderness should go away in a day or two.

After you receive this vaccine, you may be able to pass the virus to other people. You should avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, newborn babies whose mothers have never had chickenpox, premature babies, and people whose bodies cannot fight infection (such as those with bone marrow disease, HIV, or people having cancer treatments). Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Wait at least 4 weeks after you receive this vaccine before getting a TB skin test. This vaccine may interfere with the results of TB skin tests.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): High fever that continues; seizures; numbness on one side of face; sudden and severe tiredness or weakness; severe rash; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe cough or trouble breathing.

Other: Skin irritation or pain where injection is given, mild rash, cough, irritability, headache, nervousness, tiredness, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, loss of appetite.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• Aspirin and medicines that contain aspirin (Do not take any aspirin for 6 weeks after this vaccine unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.)
• Cancer medicines such as cisplatin, doxorubicin (Doxil), hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea), vinblastine, and vincristine (Marqibo)
• Corticosteroids such as betamethasone, cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone, hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), prednisolone (Omnipred, Orapred, Prelone), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol), and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• Immune globulin or varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG)
• Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), glatiramer (Copaxone), mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Medicines to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune disorders such as adalimumab (Humira), belimumab (Benlysta), certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), and leflunomide (Arava)
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Multiple sclerosis medicines such as fingolimod (Gilenya), glatiramer (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri), and teriflunomide (Aubagio)
• Other live virus vaccines
• Radiation therapy

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.