Varivax Side Effects

Varivax side effects and adverse reactions include:

• Pain, redness, or itching at the injection site.
• Severe allergic reaction.
• Varicella like rash at the injection site.
• Encephalitis
• Pneumonia, pneumonitis
• Shingles
• Symptoms of varicella (chicken pox)
• Symptoms of herpes zoster (shingles)
• Febrile seizures

Warnings & Recalls for Varivax

The following populations should not recieve Varivex:

• Those with an allergy to neomycin.
• Previous blood or blood product treatment within 5 months of receiving Varivex.
• Those who have had aspirin or aspirin containing products within six weeks of the vaccine.
• Those who have been exposed to varicella within 21 days of Varivex.
• Pregnant women.

Speak with your doctor if you have any immunodeficiency disorders such as HIV or AIDS before getting vaccinated with Varivax. Also speak with your doctor if you are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant. It is unknown what effects this vaccine may have on pregnant women.

Varivax Treatment and Use

Varivax | varicella virus vaccine live is derived from Merck’s Oka live strain of attenuated varicella virus. Varivex is indicated as a vaccine against varicella in individuals one year of age or older.

Varicella is a herpes virus that causes chicken pox in both adults and children as well as herpes zoster (shingles), a condition that mainly effects adults who had chicken pox as children.

The strain of varicella used for this vaccine originally came from a child who contracted the virus naturally. It was processed in Merck Research Laboratories until it was made into the form that is administered to humans as a the Varivex vaccine.

Varivax should ofer individuals protection for up to 10 years if exposed to varicella naturally after vaccination. If natural exposure does not occur, immunity may decrease due to a lack of available varicella antibodies.

Varivax administration

Varivax is administered as a subcutaneous injection.

Other Names for Varivax

Brand name:

• Varivax

Generic (unavailable):

• varicella virus vaccine

Lawsuits & Legal Information for Varivax