Chickenpox Vaccine and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

This article answers several questions regarding the chickenpox vaccine and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Children with ALL can, and should, receive the chickenpox vaccine. Through a certain research protocol, manufacturers may even provide the vaccine to any physician free of charge, depending on the ALL case. The most common side effect of the vaccine in patients with ALL is a mild to moderate varicella-like rash.

 

An Overview of Chickenpox Vaccine and ALL

Parents whose children have acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may wonder whether their child can receive the chickenpox vaccine. The answer is yes. In certain cases, the chickenpox vaccine is available to any physician free of charge from the manufacturer through a research protocol for use in patients who have ALL who:
 
  • Are between 12 months and 17 years of age
  • Have disease that has been in remission for at least 12 continuous months
  • Have a negative history of varicella disease
  • Have a peripheral blood-lymphocyte count of greater than 700 cells/mm3
  • Have a platelet count of greater than 100,000 cells/mm3 within 24 hours of vaccination.
     
The chickenpox vaccine is well tolerated and protective in children who meet these criteria.
 

Side Effects of the Chickenpox Vaccine in ALL Patients

The most common reaction to the chickenpox vaccine for ALL patients is a mild to moderate varicella-like rash (i.e., two to 200 lesions), which occurs in approximately 5 percent of children who have completed their chemotherapy before vaccination, and 40 percent of vaccinees on maintenance chemotherapy.
 

Schedule for Chickenpox Vaccine With ALL

Children with ALL should receive two doses of the vaccine, 3 months apart. For more information about this protocol, contact Judy Birchler at (484) 679-2680 in Omnicare Clinical Research.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;