Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Chickenpox Vaccine-Related Rash | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
After receiving the chickenpox vaccine, if a breakout occurs during the 21-day period, is the child contagious?
— Mom2Ethan in Texas | | | ANSWER |
April 18, 2002 | | | Dear Mom2Ethan,
I'm glad you asked this question because about 3 to 5 percent of children develop a small cluster (usually two to five) of chickenpox skin lesions at the site of the injection, and another 3 to 5 percent develop a handful of chickenpox lesions scattered about the body. These occur during in the first month (usually between 5 to 26 days) after receiving the vaccine. Although it is possible to transmit chickenpox to someone else by contact with this rash, it is very unusual, in large part because the vaccine contains such a weakened version of the chickenpox virus. Only three such cases had been reported after the first 14 million doses of vaccine had been distributed in the United States.
— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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