Who should receive varicella zoster virus vaccine?
Live attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine (Oka strain) has been available in Australia since 2000. In Australia, vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of 12 months (including adults) without evidence of prior varicella infection.4 A single subcutaneous dose should be given to children aged one to 13 years with no clinical history of varicella. The vaccine may be given at any time after 12 months of age. The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule suggests that a convenient age for administration is 18 months. However, there are currently no other routinely scheduled vaccines for most Australian children at that age, so parents may choose to have their children immunised earlier. For example, a child could receive varicella zoster virus vaccine at the same time as their routine 12 month vaccines or, if parents prefer not to have their child receive four injections at one visit, as a separate immunisation four or more weeks later. After the 14th birthday, two vaccine
