How safe is the chicken pox vaccine (VARIVAX III)?
It is very safe. There may be some redness, swelling or pain at the place where the needle went into the arm or leg. Some people will get a very mild case of chicken pox 1 or 2 weeks after they get the vaccine. They will most likely have less than 50 spots. Very rarely do allergic reactions occur. If your child is on Prednisone, they should not have this shot. If your child takes inhaled steroids, such as Pulmicort, it is alright to have this shot. These vaccinations have been funded by the BC Ministry of Health for people with CF. You may book an appointment to obtain these at your local public health unit or doctor’s office. Please inform the CF team when each vaccination was given. For more information about these vaccines, visit Health Canada’s Division of Immunization: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dird-dimr/immunization_e.html or the BC Health Guide: http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/httoc.
