VARIVAX

Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.

Generic name: varicella virus vaccine live
Brand names: VARIVAX
Drug class: Live-attenuated viral vaccine
Form: Injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
Route: Intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
Legal status: Specific legal/supply classification wording is unresolved from the reviewed source.

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country:

What varicella virus vaccine live is and how it works

VARIVAX is a live-attenuated varicella (chickenpox) virus vaccine given by injection. Detailed mechanism-of-action information beyond this is unresolved from the reviewed source. (1)

In the United States, VARIVAX is approved for active immunization against varicella in individuals 12 months of age and older. A healthcare professional must assess eligibility, medical history, and the vaccination schedule.

Mechanism of action: how varicella virus vaccine live works

VARIVAX is a live-attenuated varicella virus vaccine. Detailed pharmacology/immunology beyond this is unresolved from the reviewed source. (1)

What varicella virus vaccine live is used for

Prevention of varicella (chickenpox)

VARIVAX is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of varicella in individuals 12 months of age and older. The US label specifies a two-dose schedule that differs by age: children 12 months to 12 years receive the first dose at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years (minimum 3 months between doses), while adolescents (≥13 years) and adults receive two doses at least 4 weeks apart. (1)

Before taking varicella virus vaccine live

Do not take / not appropriate for

Tell the vaccinating clinician if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of varicella vaccine or to any vaccine component, including neomycin or gelatin — the clinician will determine whether vaccination is appropriate. (all individuals) (1)
Tell the vaccinating clinician if you have a known immunosuppression or immunodeficiency disorder — the clinician will determine whether vaccination is appropriate. Inadvertent vaccination in such individuals has been associated with disseminated varicella disease. (all individuals) (1)
Tell the vaccinating clinician if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 3 months after vaccination — the clinician will determine whether and when vaccination is appropriate, since VARIVAX is a live-virus vaccine and carries a theoretical risk of congenital varicella syndrome. (all individuals capable of pregnancy) (1)
Tell the vaccinating clinician if you currently have a moderate or severe febrile illness (for example, fever above 101.3°F / 38.5°C) or active untreated tuberculosis — the clinician will determine whether vaccination should be deferred. (all individuals) (1)

Tell your clinician about

Whether you have a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency. The US label warns that vaccination should be deferred until your own immune status has been formally evaluated and found to be normal.
Any current illness, fever, or infection, including possible tuberculosis exposure.
Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy within the next 3 months, or current breastfeeding status.
Any recent or planned receipt of immune globulins, blood products, or antibody-containing therapies, as these may interfere with the vaccine's immune response and specific spacing intervals are recommended.
Whether you are taking, or plan to take, salicylates (such as aspirin), so the clinician can advise on salicylate use in the weeks after vaccination because of a theoretical risk of Reye syndrome.
Any previous allergic reaction to a vaccine, including to neomycin or gelatin.

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How to take varicella virus vaccine live

VARIVAX is given as an injection (approximately 0.5 mL per dose) into a muscle or under the skin by a healthcare professional.
The vaccination schedule is two doses. For children 12 months to 12 years old: first dose at 12–15 months of age, second dose at 4–6 years, with a minimum interval of 3 months between doses. For adolescents (13 years and older) and adults: two doses given at least 4 weeks apart.
The exact timing of doses and any adjustments to the schedule must be determined by a clinician based on your age, health status, and the current official immunization recommendations.

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Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

A specific catch-up timing rule is unresolved from the reviewed source. Contact your healthcare provider, who will determine scheduling for a missed dose.

Overdose

Specific management guidance for an extra dose or a dose given at a shorter-than-recommended interval is unresolved from the reviewed source. Inform the vaccinating clinician, who will determine next steps. (1)

Side effects

Reactions can vary with age. The most frequently reported side effects are injection-site complaints and fever. A varicella-like rash (either at the injection site or widespread) has also been reported.

Injection-site complaints

What to notice: Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

What to do: Reported in 19.3% of children 1–12 years and 24.4% of adolescents/adults ≥13 years in US label clinical studies. Tell a healthcare professional if they are severe, worsening, or persistent. (1)

Fever

What to notice: Temperature elevation. In US label studies, fever ≥102.0°F (38.9°C) occurred in 14.7% of children 1–12 years; fever ≥100.0°F (37.8°C) occurred in 10.2% of adolescents/adults ≥13 years.

What to do: Seek advice from a healthcare professional if the fever is very high, prolonged, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms. (1)

Varicella-like rash

What to notice: A skin eruption resembling mild chickenpox, either localized at the injection site or appearing on other parts of the body.

What to do: Report the rash to a healthcare professional. Because of a small risk of transmitting the vaccine virus, attempt to avoid close association with susceptible high-risk people (such as immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women without documented immunity) for up to 6 weeks after vaccination, particularly if a rash develops, as your clinician advises. (1)

Signs suggesting disseminated varicella or severe illness

What to notice: The specific patient-recognizable symptom pattern for disseminated varicella is unresolved from the reviewed source; the label describes this as disseminated varicella disease, including visceral involvement, reported after vaccination in people later found to be immunosuppressed or immunodeficient.

What to do: Seek prompt medical evaluation for any widespread rash or signs of systemic illness following vaccination. This is particularly important if you have any undiagnosed or evolving immune-system condition. (1)

Serious warnings

Disseminated varicella in an immunosuppressed individual — urgent

Symptoms: The US label notes that disseminated varicella disease, including visceral involvement, has been reported after vaccination in people later found to be immunosuppressed or immunodeficient; the specific patient-recognizable symptom pattern is otherwise unresolved from the reviewed source.

Action: If you develop widespread rash, high fever, or severe systemic symptoms after vaccination, seek prompt medical attention. Inform the clinician that you received VARIVAX and mention any personal or family history of immune-system problems. (1)

Transmission of vaccine virus to high-risk contacts — preventive

Symptoms: A vaccine-related rash can occur after vaccination and poses a small risk of transmitting the live vaccine virus to susceptible close contacts.

Action: For up to 6 weeks after vaccination, attempt to avoid close association with immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women without documented immunity to chickenpox, especially if a rash develops. (1)

Reye syndrome risk linked to salicylates — preventive

Symptoms: The US label describes a theoretical risk of Reye syndrome linked to salicylate use in the 6 weeks following VARIVAX vaccination in children and adolescents; ask the vaccinating clinician for guidance before giving any salicylate-containing product in that period.

Action: Tell the vaccinating clinician about any salicylate-containing products the child or adolescent is taking or may need, and ask for their guidance before giving any salicylate-containing product in the weeks after vaccination. Seek prompt medical attention for any concerning symptoms after vaccination. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Immune globulins and antibody-containing blood products	The US label states these should not be given concurrently with VARIVAX, as they may interfere with the immune response to the vaccine and reduce the level of protection achieved.	Tell the vaccinating clinician about any recent or planned receipt of immune globulins or other antibody-containing blood products so the clinician can apply the appropriate spacing interval. (1)
Salicylates (e.g., aspirin)	The US label describes a theoretical risk of Reye syndrome linked to salicylate use in the 6 weeks following VARIVAX vaccination in children and adolescents; ask the vaccinating clinician for guidance before giving any salicylate-containing product in that period.	Tell the vaccinating clinician about all medicines the recipient takes, and seek clinician guidance before giving any salicylate-containing product to a recently vaccinated child or adolescent. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Children 12 months to 12 years

The US label recommends a two-dose schedule: first dose at 12–15 months and second dose at 4–6 years, with a minimum of 3 months between doses. A family history of immunodeficiency requires prior evaluation of the child's own immune status. Tell the vaccinating clinician about any salicylate-containing products so they can advise on use in the weeks after vaccination. (1)

Adolescents (13 years and older) and adults

The US label recommends two doses given at least 4 weeks apart. Injection-site reactions and fever are common. (1)

Pregnancy

VARIVAX is contraindicated during pregnancy, and it is a live-virus vaccine with a theoretical risk of congenital varicella syndrome. A pregnancy exposure registry (1995–2013) monitoring inadvertent vaccination found miscarriage (about 10%) and birth defect (about 2.6%) rates consistent with background population rates, with no observed cases of congenital varicella syndrome. If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or become pregnant within 3 months of vaccination, discuss this promptly with a healthcare professional, who will advise on timing and next steps. (1)

Breastfeeding

It is not known whether the varicella vaccine virus is excreted in human milk. The decision to vaccinate a breastfeeding individual should be made with a healthcare professional, weighing the benefits of vaccination against potential risks. (1)

Immunocompromised individuals (vaccination contraindicated)

VARIVAX is contraindicated in people with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency. Family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency also requires deferral and immune-status evaluation before vaccination. (1)

Contacts of high-risk individuals after vaccination

After vaccination, an individual who develops a rash should try to avoid close contact with immunocompromised people and pregnant women without documented immunity to chickenpox, for up to 6 weeks. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Confirm the individual's age, health status, immune competence, allergy history (particularly to neomycin, gelatin, or previous vaccine doses), pregnancy status, and plans for pregnancy within 3 months.
Assess for current moderate-to-severe febrile illness, active untreated tuberculosis, and receipt of immune globulins or blood products.
Verify family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency and, if present, defer vaccination until the individual's own immune status is evaluated.
Educate the recipient (or caregiver) on the two-dose schedule, potential side effects, and post-vaccination precautions (salicylate use requiring clinician guidance, contact with high-risk individuals, and recognition of serious reactions).

During treatment

Specific post-injection observation and written-instruction practices are unresolved from the reviewed source; follow current official immunization program and clinical practice guidance.

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Storage

Specific storage and handling temperature requirements were not captured from the sources reviewed in this pass and must remain unresolved. Consult the current local product packaging and official prescribing information for vaccine-storage instructions, including temperature, reconstitution, and shelf-life conditions.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, based on data assessed from the US FDA DailyMed label. Use the current local prescribing information, official immunization schedules, and relevant clinical guidelines.

US (DailyMed label reviewed)

Indication: Active immunization for prevention of varicella in individuals 12 months of age and older

Dose summary: Two doses of approximately 0.5 mL each. Children 12 months to 12 years: dose 1 at 12–15 months, dose 2 at 4–6 years, minimum 3 months between doses. Adolescents (≥13 years) and adults: two doses, minimum 4 weeks apart. Do not extrapolate to other varicella-containing vaccines without specific interchangeability evidence.

Renal context: Specific dose adjustments for renal or hepatic impairment are unresolved from the reviewed source. (1)

Non-US regions

Indication: Any varicella vaccination use

Dose summary: Non-US product labels (including UK, Australian, Health Canada) have not been reviewed in this pass. Dose, schedule, minimum interval, contraindications, and device may differ. Clinicians must follow their own jurisdiction's authorised product information and national immunization programme.

Renal context: Not established for non-US labels in the reviewed sources.

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Hepatic-impairment-specific dosing adjustments are unresolved from the reviewed source.

Overdose note

Specific management guidance for a medication error involving an extra or improperly spaced dose is unresolved from the reviewed source; report the event through the applicable pharmacovigilance/reporting process. (1)

Frequently asked questions

How many doses of VARIVAX do I need?

The US label recommends two doses. For children 12 months through 12 years old, the doses are usually given at 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years, with at least 3 months between them. For people 13 years and older, two doses are given at least 4 weeks apart. Your healthcare professional will determine the exact timing. (1)

Can I get chickenpox from the vaccine, or pass it on to others?

VARIVAX contains a live, weakened form of the varicella virus. A varicella-like rash can appear at the injection site or elsewhere on the body after vaccination. There is a small risk of transmitting the vaccine virus to susceptible close contacts, particularly if a rash develops, so close association with immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women without documented immunity should be avoided for up to 6 weeks after vaccination, as your clinician advises. (1)

I am pregnant or planning pregnancy — can I have the vaccine?

VARIVAX is a live-virus vaccine and is contraindicated during pregnancy. Tell the vaccinating clinician if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within 3 months of vaccination — they will advise on timing. If pregnancy occurs sooner, discuss the situation promptly with your healthcare professional; registry data have not shown confirmed congenital varicella syndrome from inadvertent vaccination, but a theoretical risk exists. (1)

What is the mechanism of action of varicella virus vaccine live?

VARIVAX is a live-attenuated varicella virus vaccine. Detailed pharmacology/immunology beyond this is unresolved from the reviewed source. (1)

What is the generic name of VARIVAX?

The generic name is varicella virus vaccine live. It is sold under brand names including VARIVAX. (1)

What class of drug is varicella virus vaccine live?

VARIVAX is classed as: Live-attenuated viral vaccine. (1)

References

VARIVAX — varicella virus vaccine live, injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension — prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration · United States · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient varicella virus vaccine live names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

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