The chickenpox vaccination (varicella vaccination) is a standard vaccination (regular vaccination) that is administered using a live vaccine. Varicella (chickenpox) is a common infection caused by the varicella zoster virus (varicella zoster virus) that is highly contagious. However, the disease, which usually occurs in children and manifests itself, among other things, as a skin rash, is relatively benign. The reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus at an older age is called herpes zoster (short: zoster). It is accompanied by a rash with vesicles and severe pain in the affected skin area. The following are the recommendations of the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute on varicella vaccination:
Indications (areas of application)
- I: individuals due toincreased individual risk (indication vaccination):
- Seronegative women of childbearing potential.
- Seronegative patients prior to planned immunosuppressive therapy or organ transplantation
- Susceptible patients with severe atopic dermatitis
- Susceptible individuals with close contact with the two previously mentioned.
- B: Persons due toincreased occupational risk:
- Seronegative individuals (including trainees, interns, students, and volunteers) in the following occupations:
- Medical facilities (according to § 23 (3) sentence 1 IfSG) including facilities of other human medical health care professions.
- Activities with contact to potentially infectious material.
- Nursing facilities (according to § 71 SGB XI).
- Community facilities (according to § 33 IfSG)
- Facilities for the collective accommodation of asylum seekers, persons who are obliged to leave the country, refugees and ethnic German immigrants.
- Seronegative individuals (including trainees, interns, students, and volunteers) in the following occupations:
Legend
- I: Indication vaccinations for risk groups with individual (not occupational) increased risk of exposure, disease or complications and for the protection of third parties.
- B: Vaccinations due to an increased occupational risk, e.g., after risk assessment in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act / Biological Substances Ordinance / Ordinance on Occupational Medical Precautions (ArbMedVV) and / or for the protection of third parties in the context of occupational activities.
Note!Often there is a natural immunity to varicella in adults. If you were born before 1970 (before the start of the general MMR vaccination), then there is often also a natural immunity against measles, mumps and rubella.
Contraindications
- Pregnant women
- Persons with acute illnesses requiring treatment.
- Persons with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies such as HIV infection.
Implementation
- Basic immunization: first vaccination between 11 and 14 months of age, second vaccination between 15 and 23 months of age
- For the first vaccination against varicella and measles, mumps, rubella, simultaneous administration of varicella vaccine and MMR vaccine at different body sites should be preferred or four weeks later. The reason for this recommendation is the slightly increased risk of febrile convulsions 5 to 12 days after administration of combined MMRV vaccine compared with simultaneous vaccination with varicella and MMR vaccine. This was observed only with the initial vaccination.
- The second vaccination against varicella can be done with MMRV combination vaccine (see also communication of the STIKO on “Combination vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV)” in Epidemiological Bulletin 38/2011).
- Children before the age of 13 years receive one dose of live vaccine. Children over the age of 13, adolescents and adults receive two doses of the vaccine at least six months apart.
- Wg. vaccination group B: A total of 2 times vaccination (if necessary, use MMRV combination vaccine for simultaneous indication for MMR vaccination).
- Repeat vaccination: age 2-17 years
Note: Women of childbearing potential: in the absence of immunity and vaccination, the patient must be informed that conception should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks after vaccination! (Contraception required)
Efficacy
- Reliable efficacy
Possible side effects/vaccine reactions
- Local reactions such as redness and swelling around the injection site.
- Skin rash similar to that of varicella infection.
- Febrile convulsions 5-12 days after first administration of combined MMRV vaccine (recommendation: varicella vaccine and MMR vaccine at different body sites at first dose!).
Vaccination status – control of vaccination titers
| Vaccination | Laboratory parameters | Value | Rating |
| Varicella(chickenpox)/shingles (varicella zoster virus) | VCV IgG ELISA | <60 mIU/ml | No sufficient vaccination protection detectable → basic immunization recommended |
| 60-80 mIU/ml | Questionable vaccination protection → booster recommended | ||
| > 80 mIU/ml | Sufficient vaccination protection (→ control in 3 years). |
