Chicken pox is a deadly viral disease that has caused several deaths of children and adolescents in the U.S. However, the disease can be prevented by getting immunization through the injection of chicken pox vaccine.

There are certain side effects of chicken pox vaccine induced immunization that could be seen in children. However, these symptoms and side effects are not a cause of worry since they are caused only by the chicken pox vaccine and will be cured naturally upon immunization.

Chicken pox vaccine is a live virus called varicella. However, it is attenuated and is in a weakened dose. When the chicken pox vaccine is injected to the blood stream, it does not cause the disease since it is already weakened. Instead, it triggers the body to produce an immune response to counter the proliferating virus. This immunization causes the body to be able to fight in its defense at the time of actual viral infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 90 percent drop in chicken pox cases, 10 years after the chicken pox vaccine was introduced. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, effectiveness of varicella vaccine is about 70 to 90 percent when it comes to preventing chicken pox.
 

The chicken pox vaccine is administered to children under 13. The effectiveness of the chicken pox vaccine and the absence of symptoms have been observed for at least six to 11 years in these children. In some, there has been no waning of immunity and symptoms have never recurred. Some others have been infected with chicken pox within five to six years of having received immunization and symptoms such as rash have repeated.

Immunization from chicken pox vaccine also helps prevent shingles. Even though chicken pox vaccine does not completely prevent the onset of the disease, it at least helps lower the severity of the disease.
 

In children, some common side effects and symptoms noted after chicken pox vaccine injection include soreness at the site of injection, low-grade fever, and mild rash (up to 10 blisters). Side effects such as seizures may be caused in some children.

Who should not get chicken pox vaccine? Those who exhibit allergic reaction symptoms to gelatin or neomycin should not get the vaccine. If severe allergic reaction and side effects were caused at the first immunization, chicken pox vaccine should not be administered a second time. Presence of diseases that affect the immune system affects the effectiveness of chicken pox vaccine. Effectiveness of immunization is not predictable in those who have cancer. There may be side effects of immunization in those who take high dosage of steroids (for asthma, etc.). If there is a previous history in the family of developing seizures and exhibiting other side effects upon receiving MMRV immunization, it is advisable to take MMR vaccine and chicken pox vaccine separately.