Varicella Patient Handout

Why did my Varicella result come back indeterminate or non-reactive?

Immunity can decrease over time and may even fall below the detection level of standard screening tests.

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Where do I get the Varicella vaccination?

Our recommendation is that you get vaccinated/revaccinated with your family physician.

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After receiving the vaccination or re-vaccination, how long should I wait to try to conceive?

The recommended length of time a woman should wait after receiving Rubella (or MMR) vaccine is 4 weeks.

Upon receiving your vaccination, please advise your Primary Care Team, as we need to ensure that you do not start treatment before the 4 week wait is completed.

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What are the risks of Varicella in pregnant women?

Susceptible pregnant women are at risk for associated complications when they contract varicella. Varicella causes severe maternal morbidity, and 10%-20% of infected woman develop varicella pneumonia, with mortality reported as high as 40%.

Newborns whose mothers develop Varicella rash from 5 days before to 2 days after delivery are at risk for neonatal varicella, associated with mortality as high as 30%. Furthermore, intrauterine infection may result in stillbirth, herpes zoster during infancy or early childhood, or congenital varicella syndrome.