Varicella Patient Handout
October 4, 2024
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.
Where do I get the Varicella vaccination?
Our recommendation is that you get vaccinated/revaccinated with your family physician.
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.
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.
