Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Systemic)

Brand Names : Varivax

Before Receiving This Vaccine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For varicella virus vaccine live, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to varicella virus vaccine live or to any form of the antibiotic neomycin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as gelatin.

Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant within 1 month after receiving this vaccine. Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. It is not known whether varicella vaccine can harm the fetus; however, natural varicella infection can sometimes cause birth defects. Pregnancy should be avoided for 3 months after you get the varicella virus vaccine live.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether varicella vaccine virus passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who receive this vaccine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Varicella virus vaccine live is not recommended for use in infants up to 12 months of age. Varicella virus vaccine live has been tested in children 1 year of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it may cause in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of varicella virus vaccine live in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Before you receive varicella virus vaccine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you have received any of the following:

• Treatment with x-rays or cancer medicines - Treatment may increase the action of the vaccine, causing an increase in vaccine side effects, or treatment may interfere with the useful effect of the vaccine

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of varicella virus vaccine live. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Febrile illness - The symptoms of the condition may be confused with the possible side effects of the vaccine

• Immune deficiency condition (or family history of) - This condition may increase the chance and severity of side effects of the vaccine and/or may decrease the useful effects of the vaccine

• Tuberculosis - Natural varicella infection (chickenpox) may make this condition worse; however, there have been no reports of the vaccine causing tuberculosis to become worse