age of first varicella vaccination
The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends two doses of the chickenpox vaccine for most children. The first dose is given around age 1 and the second around ages 4-6. A single dose of the vaccine reduces risk of chickenpox between 70-90%, and two doses reduce the risk even more. The chickenpox vaccine is a live, attenuated vaccine and is not recommended for people with weakened immune systems. It is available as a single vaccine, and it is also available as part of the MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine). The chickenpox vaccine was added to the childhood immunization schedule in 1995.