Varicella Vaccine Recommendations

The varicella vaccines licensed in the United States are single-antigen varicella vaccine and the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. MMRV is only licensed for children 1 year to 12 years old. Help parents and caregivers make a decision on which vaccine their child should get.

This page summarizes CDC's current varicella vaccine recommendations. Access the official, full text below:

ACIP Recommendations on Varicella and other MMWR articles. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practi.

Varicella vaccine effectiveness‎

Evidence of immunity

Evidence of immunity to varicella includes any of the following:

• Documentation of age-appropriate varicella vaccination.
  • For preschool-age children (age 12 months through 3 years): 1 dose
  • For school-age children, adolescents, and adults: 2 doses
  • Commercial assays can be used to assess disease-induced immunity, but they lack sensitivity to detect vaccine-induced immunity (i.e., they might yield false-negative results).

  Verifying history of varicella

  Healthcare providers should inquire about either:

  • An epidemiologic link to another typical varicella case or to a laboratory confirmed case.
  • Evidence of laboratory confirmation, if testing was performed at the time of acute disease.

  People who have neither of the above criteria should not be considered as having a valid history of disease. For these people, a 2nd dose of vaccine is recommended if they previously received only 1 dose. If a healthcare provider verifies the diagnosis based on the above criteria, then vaccination is not needed.

  Routine recommendations

  Routine 2-dose vaccination

  • First dose at 12 through 15 months old
  • Second dose at 4 through 6 years old

  Second dose catch-up vaccination

  If the 2nd dose is administered after the 7th birthday, the minimum interval between doses is:

  • 3 months for children younger than 13 years
  • 4 weeks for people 13 years and older

  People 13 years or older

  MMRV vaccine is not approved for people in this age group, so use the single-antigen varicella vaccine.

  Give 2 doses 4 to 8 weeks apart to adolescents and adult 13 years and older without evidence of immunity. If it's been more than 8 weeks since the 1st dose, the 2nd dose may be given without restarting the schedule.

  Keep Reading: About Varicella Vaccines

  Considerations for specific groups

  Varicella vaccine is recommended for vaccinating people in specific groups who do not have evidence of immunity against varicella, including:

  • People with HIV infection
  • People with some degree of immunodeficiency
  • Household contacts of immunocompromised people
  • Postpartum and nursing mothers
  • Healthcare personnel
  Keep Reading: Varicella Vaccination for Specific Groups

  Post-exposure vaccination

  ACIP recommends that after being exposed to varicella or herpes zoster, people with no evidence of immunity and who are eligible for vaccination should get varicella vaccine.

  • Ideally, the vaccine should be given within 3 to 5 days after the person is exposed. This may prevent varicella or make it less severe.
  • Even if it has been more than 5 days, the vaccine should still be offered. This will provide protection against varicella if a person is exposed again in the future and the previous exposure did not result in infection.

  People who previously got the first dose should get a second dose at the appropriate time interval.

  There are no data available on the use of the combination MMRV vaccine for post-exposure vaccination.

  Varicella vaccination is recommended for controlling outbreaks. People who do not have evidence of immunity should get a first or second dose as needed.

  Additional resources:

  • About the Varicella Vaccines
  • Clinical Guidance for People at Risk for Severe Varicella
    

  Contraindications and precautions

  Contraindications and precautions to vaccination generally dictate circumstances when vaccines will not be given.