Frequently asked questions about varicella vaccine

Abstract

Each year in Australia severe varicella and zoster infections cause a number of deaths and thousands of hospitalisations. A live attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine has been available in Australia since 2000. This vaccine is recommended for all non-immune children over 12 months of age and all susceptible adults. There have been theoretical concerns about the vaccine leading to increased cases of zoster and varicella in adults because of a combination of waning vaccine-induced immunity and reduced immunological boosting from exposure to circulating virus. However, clinicians are encouraged to consider its use in all non-immune people apart from immunocompromised patients and pregnant w..