Written by Editorial Team
Babies are weak and they are prone to diseases. Chickenpox is one of them. In this article, we will try and clear all your doubts about the chickenpox infection and its vaccine.
We will look at the schedule of the vaccine, how it benefits the baby, what are the side effects and how to prevent them. We will focus on when the baby should get vaccinated and how to take care of the baby after it is vaccinated.
In This Article
Varicella virus causes an infection where you develop tiny-sized blisters all over your body. It is commonly called chickenpox. You may have rashes and itchiness as well. It is contagious. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, excessive sleep, and coughing.
Varicella causes chickenpox, and it is contagious. It can spread via human contact, sneezes, coughs, saliva, or mucus as well. If the baby gets in contact with the virus, it gets it. If the baby touches a fresh chickenpox blister, it can get the infection immediately. If a newborn gets chickenpox, it can be serious. Check out the risks that follow if a baby gets a chickenpox infection:
Varicella virus spreads among humans exactly like cold or flu. So, the methods or prevention for flu and chickenpox are very similar:
However, the most important and effective way to prevent chickenpox infection is to get a chickenpox vaccine for babies!
Varicella vaccine contains an attenuated virus, which, when injected into the body, strengthens the immunity against chickenpox. The benefits of varicella immunization are:
First up, to get the vaccine, the baby should not be infected with chickenpox. If the baby is already exposed to the varicella virus once, the immunity would have automatically developed.
You can delay the first shot of the vaccine if the baby is ill since the immune system is weak. Once the baby is healthy and fully recovered, there is no harm in taking the vaccine. If the baby had a nasty reaction after the first dose, you should avoid the second dose.
Like every vaccine, the chickenpox vaccine also has some adverse effects on the body. Some of the common ones are:
Rarely, some serious reactions may occur. It may look like:
The best possible help in case of a reaction is to call a doctor.
You cannot prevent the side effects of a vaccine. They are inevitable. Side effects are a result of the developing antibodies in the baby’s body. When there are side effects, like fever, fatigue, rashes, we can say that the vaccine is doing its job.
We can take care of the baby when the side effects of the vaccine kick in and try and comfort it.
The side effects are inevitable, so it is essential to take care of the baby. You can check the temperature to see if the fever isn’t high. You can check for uneasiness or stiffness. Make sure that the baby is as comfortable as possible.
If the side effects trouble the baby too much, you can use medicines like liquid paracetamol but only after consulting your doctor. It will negate the side effects and relieve the baby from that pain.
The vaccines are, time and again, thoroughly tested for safety. But in case of a reaction or severe adverse effects after chickenpox immunization, seeking a doctor is a must. You can check out the following symptoms:
You should not neglect the abnormal signs after the vaccination of your baby. It is extremely rare, but it can be fatal.
The newborns inherit some immunity from their mother soon after birth. But it fades away in about two months. After that, you should take care of your baby till the varicella vaccine is given. It includes:
Even if you choose not to vaccinate the baby, chickenpox is not a lethal infection. It lasts for about two weeks, and the body becomes immune to it once we are infected. So, the chances of getting chickenpox again are negligible.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has stated the vaccine to be more than 90% effective against the virus. Those with a weak immune system should definitely get vaccinated against the varicella virus.
Even though chickenpox is not that lethal, it can cause trouble sometimes. So, it is better to be on the safe side. And, you can avoid the pain of all those blisters and rashes which feel like needles pricking through your skin. We hope that this article was helpful!
Read Also: MMR Vaccine for Babies: A Complete Guide
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