Time and study will tell if Varivax is one of them. The vaccine isn't approved for use in pregnant women, people with weakened immunity and people who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. Consult your doctor for more information about the varicella vaccine. Parents typically wonder whether vaccines are safe. Since its availability, several million doses of the varicella vaccine have been given to children in the United States.
Studies continue to show the vaccine to be safe and effective.
Side effects are generally mild and include redness, soreness, fatigue, nausea and, rarely, small bumps at the site of the shot. If you've had chickenpox, you don't need the vaccine. You're immune to future exposures for life. Scratching can make the sores harder to heal, cause scarring and increase the risk that the sores will become infected. To lessen irritation when your child scratches, trim his or her fingernails.