Varicella epidemic: in which cases should one be vaccinated?

Highly contagious, chickenpox is a disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and transmissible through direct contact with blisters of an infected person or through the respiratory tract.

It is also a benign and immunizing pathology: in the majority of cases, if a person has caught her once, she is protected for the rest of her life. More than 90% of teenagers have been affected child and are thus naturally immunized, according to the Vaccination Info Service website.

Varicella: the cases where it is recommended to be vaccinated

Varicella vaccination is divided into two doses at intervals of 4 to 8 weeks or 6 to 8 weeks depending on the vaccine used.

Contrary to what one might think, teenagers and adults are also contaminated: out of 700,000 French annual cases, 10% are more than 10 years old.

As a result, vaccination of all children against chickenpox is not recommended, but it is recommended for adults who have escaped the disease, especially in the following cases:

• For teenagers aged 12 to 18 who did not have the disease as a child or whose history is questionable.
• For women of childbearing age to avoid catching the disease during pregnancy. All vaccinations against varicella in a woman of childbearing age must be preceded by a negative pregnancy test. Effective contraception of 3 months is recommended after each dose of vaccine.
• For women after a first pregnancy In this case also, effective contraception is recommended throughout the vaccination process and three months after each dose.
• After exposure to the disease : within 3 days, people over 12 years old.
• For health staff : As soon as you enter a medical or paramedical study, you will catch up with professionals, especially those in contact with people at risk (pregnant women, newborns, infants, young children, people who are immunocompromised or who have an infectious disease).
• For early childhood professionals including nursery and community staff.
• For all people in contact with patients immunocompromised or waiting for a transplant.

Read also :

⋙ Varicella in adults: how to recognize symptoms?

⋙ Varicella in adults: attention danger!

⋙ Chicken pox buttons: 10 natural tips to avoid scars