Varicella (Chickenpox)
Information about Varicella (chickenpox) immunisation funded under the Immunise Australia Program.
Varicella (chickenpox) is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is a member of the herpes group of viruses. It is usually a mild disease that lasts a short time in healthy children. However, it can be severe in adults and may cause serious and even fatal complications in people of any age.
The disease is spread by direct contact with people who are infected and it is often more serious in adults.
Symptoms of varicella take between 10 and 21 days (14 to 16 days on average) to show after infection. The main symptom of varicella is a rash that turns into open lesions (small wounds), which crust over.
Complications of the disease include:
- infection of the lesions;
- pneumonia (lung infection);
- difficulty walking and balancing;
- meningitis (infection of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord); and
- encephalitis (brain infection).
Varicella virus can reactivate many years after the initial infection and cause shingles (herpes zoster).
Varicella is a vaccine preventable disease. Varicella vaccination is recommended as part of routine childhood immunisation. The vaccine should not be given to children with severe immune deficiency diseases, including HIV/AIDS, or to any child taking high doses of immune suppressing medicine. It is listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and funded for children under the Immunise Australia Program. To receive varicella immunisation, visit your local doctor or immunisation provider. It is important to note that the vaccine is provided at no cost, however a consultation fee may apply.
This Program commenced on 1 November 2005. It provides free varicella vaccine for all children at 18 months of age and a catch-up program for children aged 10-13 years who have not received varicella vaccine or who have not had the disease.
Immunisation against varicella is achieved using single-disease vaccines. For information about immunisation in your area contact your State or Territory Health Department. For technical information or information about vaccines, refer to the varicella section of the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 18 May, 2011