Immunization Dialogue

Indian Pediatrics 2000;37: 1279.

Varicella Vaccine

A five-year-old boy developed chicken pox with less than 15 skin lesions, distributed all over the body including the scalp. He had received a dose of chicken pox vaccine 7 days prior to the onset of lesions. He was given a course of Acylovir during the illness. Does he require another dose of chicken pox vaccine? If yes, when?

N. Ganga,
39, John Selvaraj Nagar,
Kumbakonam 612 001,
Tamil Nadu, India

The description, with less than 15 vesicles one week after varicella vaccination in a 5-year-old boy, fits with the vesicular rash due to varicella vaccine. Acyclovir was unnecesary, especially since the rash of vaccination is a very mild form of chickenpox. Acyclovir, given after the appearance of skin vesicles does not alter either the clinical course (perhaps the vesicles might begin drying one day earlier) or the immune response. Therefore, repeat vaccination is not necessary.

T. Jacob John,
Emeritus Medical Scientist (ICMR),
439, Civil Supplies Godown Lane,
Kamalakshipuram,
Vellore TN 632 002, India.
E-mail: [email protected]