Varivax and Pregnancy

It is generally recommended that pregnant women avoid Varivax. Although the effects of the vaccine on a developing fetus are unknown, there is a theoretical risk of damage to the fetus if the vaccine is administered during pregnancy. Pregnancy should be avoided for at least one month after receiving the vaccine.

Varivax Vaccine Information

Is Getting Varivax Safe While Pregnant?

Varivax^® (varicella vaccine) is a vaccine approved to prevent chickenpox. It is not recommended for pregnant women.

Pregnancy Category C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.

Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

The effects of Varivax on a developing fetus are unknown. There is a theoretical risk of damage to the fetus if the vaccine is administered during pregnancy. In theory, the vaccine could cause birth defects similar to those that can occur from natural chickenpox (such as limb abnormalities including absence or underdevelopment, abnormal brain development, mental retardation, scarring of the skin, and eye abnormalities).

So far, there have been no cases reported to the registry of birth defects in babies born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy.

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