Varicella Vaccine
The Varicella virus causes Chickenpox. Classic chickenpox signs include rashes, fluid-filled blisters, and mild fevers. While uncommon, Chickenpox can cause serious complications, including Streptococcal infections, Pneumonia, Encephalitis, hemorrhaging, and Sepsis. After initial infection, the Varicella virus remains dormant in the body’s nervous system. Later in life, this virus can resurface as Shingles. A person cannot become infected with Shingles if they were not infected with Chickenpox earlier in life.
Sources: CDC and New York Presbyterian
The Case For the Vaccine
Researchers believe that the best way to protect against the virus is to get the vaccine. Serious Chickenpox cases have been successfully prevented post-vaccination, and if a vaccinated individual becomes infected with Chickenpox, the symptoms are typically mild. While rare, serious complications can occur, causing pediatricians to recommend full vaccination for patients. Since Shingles stems directly from Varicella infections, the vaccine can prevent against Shingles cases later in life.
Sources: CDC and New York Presbyterian
The Case Against the Vaccine
The vaccine’s validity and necessity have been questioned, since Chickenpox was once viewed as a typical childhood disease. Complications are rare, which lowers perceived risk. Additionally, some individuals prefer natural immunity over vaccine-acquired immunity, though this does open the door for Shingles infections later in life. Reported vaccine adverse reactions include Bell’s Palsy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Encephalitis, causing some to question whether the vaccine presents more serious side effects than the true virus.
Sources: New York Presbyterian, CDC, and Merck & Co. Inc.
Conclusion
Chickenpox cases and their severity have declined since the vaccine’s introduction. However, natural immunity preferences, low perceived risks, and documented serious adverse reactions amongst the vaccinated have led individuals to question the necessity and safety of the vaccine. When deciding whether to vaccinate your child, we challenge you to deeply research documented vaccine side effects documented on the package inserts, understand the true risk of the virus, and learn about the correlation between Shingles and Varicella later in life.