The essentials
- Usual timing
- First dose at 15 months. Second dose usually given as MMRV at ages 4–6.
- How to get it
- Ask a primary care provider or public health unit about local appointments and funding.
Helps prevent chickenpox and its complications, such as serious skin infections and pneumonia. Vaccinated children who get chickenpox usually have milder illness.
School status
Chickenpox is included in school requirements for children born in 2010 or later, unless a valid exemption applies.
Side effects & precautions
Soreness, redness or swelling where the needle went in, fever or a few chickenpox-like spots can appear after vaccination. Side-effect guidance
This is a live vaccine. Discuss pregnancy, a weakened immune system, medicines that weaken immunity, recent blood or immune-globulin products, and any serious previous reaction. If a rash develops, ask about contact with pregnant people or people with weak immune systems who are not protected against chickenpox; spread of vaccine virus is very rare.
Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat. Not sure whether a reaction is expected? Contact a healthcare provider or call 811 for advice. Seek care promptly if symptoms are worrying or getting worse.
Useful to know
Already had chickenpox?
A provider should review the history and any evidence of immunity. Public health will advise which documentation or exemption form is needed for school. A parent’s recollection alone may not be enough.
Medicines
Tell the vaccinator about medicines, including aspirin or other salicylates and antivirals. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice.
Ingredients & more detail
Check the exact product
Ask the clinic for the product name. Its official Canadian product information (product monograph) lists ingredients, packaging, side effects and precautions. This page is a short overview, not a complete safety list.
Your next step
Bring the immunization record and a list of questions to the visit. Ask which doses count, what comes next and how to report new doses to public health.
Sources and references (5)
Program details can change. How this guide is reviewed