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Chickenpox Vaccine Information
While it may seem a given that a person will experience chickenpox at some point in their lifetime, today, that may no longer be the case. In 1995, a chickenpox vaccine was introduced. Also called the varicella vaccine, it is widely available in healthcare clinics and offices.
The chickenpox vaccine can be given with other vaccines and has about an 80 percent to 90 percent effectiveness rate. Even if a person who has received the vaccine does get chickenpox, the disease tends to be mild and only lasts a few days.
(Click Chickenpox Vaccine to learn more, including who should get the vaccine and when, possible side effects, and when it should be avoided altogether.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD