Chickenpox Vaccine Safe and Effective for Adults

A new study finds that the chickenpox vaccine for kids is safe and effective for adults. Dr. Emily Senay talks to us more about it.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that is usually contracted during childhood. It causes a rash with small blisters all over the body. If you had it while you were a child, you might remember the spots and the itching and the calamine lotion, and getting over it in about two weeks.

But if you get chickenpox while you're an adult, the symptoms can be much more severe. A study in today's The Journal of the American Medical Association finds that the vaccine for chickenpox used for children is also safe for adults. Another new study by doctors at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York showed that vaccine to be effective in providing long-term immunity for adults. So if you're over 13 years old, and you aren't already immune to chickenpox health researchers suggest that you might want to seriously consider getting the vaccine. It could protect you from a miserable couple of weeks or even much worse.
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