Starting at birth, your child receives many vaccines that prevent them from catching common viruses. Vaccinations also keep your child from developing illnesses that can cause severe complications and even death.
The chickenpox, or varicella, vaccine is an important immunization recommended for almost every child by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and pediatricians Rainilda Valencia, MD, and Deepika Saini, MD, FAAP. Read on to learn when you should schedule your child’s chickenpox vaccine at Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California.
Chickenpox is a viral infection that was common in children before the varicella vaccine was developed. Like other viruses, it can cause fever, fatigue, weakness, and reduced appetite.
The most characteristic symptom of chickenpox is the red rash that develops on your child’s body. It starts as bumps and transitions to blisters filled with fluid, and ultimately scabs. These rashes and blisters are very itchy and uncomfortable.
Most children have chickenpox for about a week, during which time they should rest at home and avoid scratching or picking at their scabs and blisters. Your child is recovered and no longer contagious when all their blisters have scabbed over.
Chickenpox is an extremely contagious and common virus in young children who aren’t vaccinated. Even when your child has a mild infection, you can expect them to be extremely itchy and uncomfortable, missing school and other activities for at least a week.
For some children, chickenpox can also come with complications that could cause hospitalization and even death, including:
The odds of serious complications from chickenpox increase with age. The older your child is, the higher their risk of severe illness or even death from contracting chickenpox.
Most children who receive the vaccine are unlikely to get chickenpox. Breakthrough infections can happen, but they’re typically mild.
The CDC recommends that nearly all children get two doses of the chickenpox vaccination. Your child’s first vaccine occurs at 12-15 months of age. They need to get the second vaccine between ages 4-6.
If your child is older than 15 months and hasn’t received the vaccine yet, our team will let you know when they should receive their first and second dose.
Children 13 or older who’ve never received the vaccine or had chickenpox need to get two doses 28 days apart as soon as possible. Your child’s risk of hospitalization from catching the virus at that age is much higher.
There are two vaccines approved in the United States, Varivax® and ProQuad®. Varivax contains only the chickenpox vaccine and can be used in anyone at least one year old.
ProQuad is a combination vaccine that includes measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. Children 1-12 years of age who need all these vaccines can receive ProQuad.
Our team recommends the best vaccine and vaccination schedule for your child. Nearly every child can safely receive both doses of at least one of the licensed vaccines.
The chickenpox vaccine wasn’t developed until the 1990s, so many new parents today remember getting this uncomfortable, itchy illness. Thankfully, your child can now receive the vaccine and avoid the miserable symptoms, risk of permanent scarring, and potential complications.
Contact us today to schedule your child’s chickenpox vaccine.
