• VARIVAX is indicated for vaccination against varicella in individuals 12 months of age and older.
  

  —	Children 12 months to 12 years of age should receive a 0.5-mL dose administered subcutaneously; if a second 0.5-mL dose is administered to children, it should be given a minimum of 3 months later.
  —	Adolescents and adults 13 years of age and older should receive a 0.5-mL dose administered subcutaneously at elected date and a second 0.5-mL dose 4 to 8 weeks later.

Select Safety Information

VARIVAX is contraindicated in certain individuals, including those with: a history of hypersensitivity
to any component of the vaccine, including gelatin; a history of anaphylactoid reaction to neomycin; blood dyscrasias, leukemia, lymphomas of any type, or other malignant neoplasms affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic systems; an immunodeficient condition or receiving immunosuppressive therapy; active, untreated tuberculosis; active febrile illness; or those who are pregnant.

In children, adolescents, and adults monitored for up to 42 days, the adverse effects most frequently reported were as follows: fever, injection-site complaints, varicella-like rash (injection site), and varicella-like rash (generalized).

In a clinical trial involving children who received 2 doses of VARIVAX 3 months apart, the incidence of injection-site clinical complaints (primarily erythema and swelling) observed in the first 4 days following vaccination was slightly higher post-dose 2 (overall incidence 25.4%) than post-dose 1 (overall incidence 21.7%), whereas the incidence of systemic clinical complaints in the 42-day follow-up period was lower post-dose 2 (66.3%) than post-dose 1 (85.8%).

There are insufficient data to assess the rate of protection of VARIVAX against the serious complications of chickenpox (eg, encephalitis, hepatitis, pneumonia), and during pregnancy (congenital varicella syndrome).

The duration of protection of VARIVAX is unknown; however, long-term efficacy studies have demonstrated continued protection up to 10 years after vaccination.

Vaccination with VARIVAX may not result in protection of all healthy, susceptible children, adolescents, and adults.

Before administering VARIVAX, please read the Prescribing Information.

Continue to Data on Breakthrough Disease or Seroprotection.

References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR. 2007;55(51&52):Q1–Q4. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR. 2007;56(2):32.

VARIVAX is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.