Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Systemic)
Brand Names : Varivax
Before Receiving This VaccineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For varicella virus vaccine live, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to varicella virus vaccine live or to any form of the antibiotic
neomycin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any
other substances, such as gelatin.
Pregnancy - Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend
to become pregnant within 1 month after receiving this vaccine. Studies on
effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. It is
not known whether varicella vaccine can harm the fetus; however, natural varicella
infection can sometimes cause birth defects. Pregnancy should be avoided for
3 months after you get the varicella virus vaccine live.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether varicella vaccine virus
passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in
small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers
who receive this vaccine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with
their doctor.
Children - Varicella virus vaccine live is not recommended for
use in infants up to 12 months of age. Varicella virus vaccine live has been
tested in children 1 year of age and older and, in effective doses, has not
been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it may cause in
adults.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of varicella virus vaccine live in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Before you receive
varicella virus vaccine, it is especially important that your health care
professional know if you have received any of the following:
-
Treatment with x-rays or cancer medicines - Treatment may increase
the action of the vaccine, causing an increase in vaccine side effects, or
treatment may interfere with the useful effect of the vaccine
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of varicella virus vaccine live. Make sure you
tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Febrile illness - The symptoms of the condition may be confused
with the possible side effects of the vaccine
-
Immune deficiency condition (or family history of) - This condition
may increase the chance and severity of side effects of the vaccine and/or
may decrease the useful effects of the vaccine
-
Tuberculosis - Natural varicella infection (chickenpox) may make
this condition worse; however, there have been no reports of the vaccine causing
tuberculosis to become worse
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