The Chickenpox Vaccine: Health 101

Who shouldn't get the chickenpox vaccine?

While the chickenpox vaccine is one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended childhood vaccinations, people who fall into the following categories should not receive it:

• People who've had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine
• People who are allergic to gelatin (the stuff in Jell-O) or the antibiotic neomycin
• Pregnant women (or women planning to become pregnant within one month of getting the vaccine)
• People with a suppressed immune system (or who are taking medications that may affect the immune system, like steroids for asthma, for example), cancer, or who recently received a blood transfusion
• Kids who are moderately or severely ill (more than just a cold, for example), should wait to get vaccinated

Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about whether or not the chickenpox vaccine is safe for your child.