Chickenpox Vaccine Booster Shot a Good Idea

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"The important thing is that the [first-shot] protection is about 90 percent effective," Frenck said. "There was an 85 percent reduction in cases of varicella over 10 years."

A new multiple vaccine, approved last year, should make it easier for children to get both the first and recommended second shot, Frenck said. Protection against chicken pox has been added to the MMR vaccine, aimed at measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).

A second shot offers advantages in addition to protection against a childhood outbreak, Seward said, since chickenpox can occur in adults. "There is definitely improved immune response after the second dose. There is better immunity in the long term," she said.

More information

There's more on the chickenpox vaccine at the U.S. National Network for Immunization Information.