FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Chickenpox (varicella)
Why you should vaccinate adults against chickenpox
- Typically chickenpox will cause between 250 to 500 itchy blisters on the body of unvaccinated persons, causing extreme discomfort. Chickenpox may cause complications such as pneumonia or, rarely, an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), both of which can be very serious.
- About 90 percent of unvaccinated household contacts of an infected person will catch chickenpox.
- The vaccine is very effective (about 90 percent) and safe.
