1. Varicella Vaccine
Robyn Mauldin-McLeod

2. What this is… Overview Complications
Methods of exposure prior to the vaccine
Description of the vaccine- benefits and risks
Example of a case where this information is relevant
Argument for the use of the Varicella vaccine from personal experiences

3. About Varicella Comes from the Varicella Zoster Virus
Varicella (chicken pox)- childhood
Herpes Zoster (shingles)- late adulthood
Chickenpox: fluid filled skin lesions that scab, crust over, and fall off
Treatments: home remedies such as oatmeal baths, covering children’s hands so they won’t itch, or using lotions
Academic concerns: students typically miss 5-6 days

4. My Case Kindergarten class outbreak 10 bumps
Did not know if it was a mild case or something completely unrelated
Pediatricians thought that I would be likely to get it if exposed to it again
Kindergarten

5. Chickenpox Parties Also known as exposure parties
Parents would exposure their child to one with chicken pox so they would get the virus at a younger age.
Common before vaccine
Raises concern about willfully spreading infectious diseases

6. My “parties” Brother had a typical case
Neighborhood friend had a cousin who was invited to come to the park
Did not develop chickenpox
My brother at the age he had the virus
Fun times at Crowe Park

7. Complications Rare severe complications
Adults and adolescents, pregnant women fetuses, newborns, infants, and people with compromised immune systems at risk
Complications: infections, high fevers, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, encephalitis, pneumonia, Reye’s syndrome etc.
Can result in hospitalizations or death

8. Why I was at risk? Not sure that I ever had the chickenpox
Parties unsuccessful
Close to adolescence. My mother, a nurse, was concerned about me getting it when I was older

9. The development of the vaccine
Developed in Japan in 1974
US since 1995
Live attenuated virus
Prevents chickenpox in 70-90% of people (mild case)
MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine
Most states including North Carolina now require it for entering daycare and kindergarten

10. Pros Cons Shingles are less common with vaccine
Less hospitalizations since vaccine
If people develop chickenpox approx. 50 lesions (typical wild case )
More cost effective (cost of vaccine versus cost of hospitalization)
People still can get Varicella
People who are allergic to neomycin and gelatin may develop allergic reactions
Adults may run a low grade fever
Rash may develop (MMRV vs. MMR or Varicella)
More research still needed about long term immunity

11. My initial vaccination
Got the vaccine in 1996
11 years old
No symptoms
Was new vaccine but this would now be considered a “catch up” because of my age

12. New developments
Recommend to be given in two doses (initial with booster shot given 4-6 years later)
North Carolina requirements-1 dose if born in 2001 or later

13. Should I get another vaccine?
Microbiologist told me of recommendations of another dose
I work in a preschool (not-state run) and don’t have access to vaccination information
Discussed with my physician

14. Varicella Outbreak
Students in NC who are born before 2001 are not required to have been vaccinated
Adults with shingles
Outbreak recommendations
Students-lesions crust (non-contagious)
Adults with Herpes Zoster-Antiviral medications
Vaccination (families, peers, 2nd dose)
Notification Letters to parents

15. An advocate for the Vaccine
Another dose
Didn’t develop any symptoms
(Tetanus booster in other arm the same day) Soreness around Tetanus shot but not Varicella
Older non-vaccinated students coworkers with shingles
Complications in adulthood
Discovered from fiancé's case that it recommended when traveling abroad
Both Chicken pox free
due to Varicella Vaccine!

16. References
Campos, A. J., Varicella Zoster virus. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from
Davis, M. M. et al. (2004). Benefits of Varicella vaccine. Pediatrics, (114)
Chickenpox vaccine: What you need to know (2008). In Centers for Disease and Control online Retrieved April 17, 2009 from
Exposure parties (2007). In National Network for Immunization Information database. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination (2009). In Centers for Disease and Control online Retrieved April 17, 2009 from