VARICELLA (CHICKENPOX) VACCINE

Course overview

VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS (CHICKENPOX) IS AN ACUTE FEBRILE RASH ILLNESS THAT WAS VERY COMMON IN CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE THE UNIVERSAL VACCINATION PROGRAM CAME INTO EXISTENCE. LUCKILY, THE VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS IS A VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE, AND THE FDA APPROVES THE USE OF THE LIVE VARICELLA VIRUS VACCINE TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FOR THE PREVENTION OF VARICELLA IN INDIVIDUALS 12 MONTHS AND OLDER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THIS VACCINE, AND THE FRONT LINE PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE PREVENTION OF THE DISEASE.