What are the contraindications and precautions to varicella vaccination?
Varicella vaccine should not be given to persons who are allergic to any component of the vaccine or who have had a severe allergic reaction to a prior dose of vaccine. The vaccine contains neomycin and gelatin, but does not contain preservatives or egg protein. Although the vaccine is not licensed for persons with blood dyscrasias, leukemia, lymphoma or malignant neoplasms affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, the vaccine is available at no cost for a limited group of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) through a research protocol. In 1999, ACIP altered its recommendations for the use of varicella vaccine. The committee continued to contraindicate the vaccine for persons with cellular immunodeficiences but removed the restriction on vaccination of persons with defects of humoral immunodeficiency. In addition, ACIP suggested that physicians consider vaccinating a subset of HIV-infected children who are in CDC Class N1 or A1 and have an age-specific CD4% >25%. Thes
