Who Should Not Get the Chicken Pox Vaccine?
• People should not get chickenpox vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or (for those needing a second dose) a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine. • People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine. • Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for 1 month after getting chickenpox vaccine. • Some people should check with their doctor about whether they should get chickenpox vaccine, including anyone who: • Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system • Is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer • Has any kind of cancer • Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs • People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they
