chickenpox
Did you know?
Adults are 25 times more likely to die from chickenpox than children.
About the vaccine
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The chickenpox vaccine is free and recommended for children as part of their routine immunizations. |
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It's also free and recommended for adults who have never had chicken pox disease or received the vaccine. If you haven't had the chickenpox vaccine, book an appointment with your public health nurse or doctor (prescription required). |
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get chickenpox. Minor reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, redness and swelling where the shot was given.
For more information about the vaccine, who should get it, the benefits and possible reactions, visit the
Chickenpox healthfile.
About the disease
- Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus
The average child will have about 350 blisters - Chickenpox is spread by coughing and sneezing and is highly contagious. It can also be spread through contact with the fluid from chickenpox blisters
- Complications include pneumonia (lung infection) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and bacterial infections of the skin. Encephalitis can lead to convulsions, deafness or brain damage
- Chickenpox may be more severe in teenagers and adults
- About 1 in 5,000 adults will die from the infection
- More Facts About Chickenpox (44a)
- More vaccine preventable disease images.
- News Article - Unimmunized Kids Less Likely to Get Chickenpox if Vaccinated After Exposure
Photos courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
