Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.
The varicella vaccine (Varivax) protects against chickenpox and is given as two doses in childhood. With over 93,000 VAERS reports, it's one of the most-reported childhood vaccines — largely reflecting its widespread use since FDA approval in 1995.
The following symptoms are most frequently reported after varicella vaccination:
Varicella protection is available as standalone Varivax or combined with MMR as ProQuad (MMRV). ProQuad has a slightly higher rate of febrile seizures in children 12-23 months compared to giving MMR and varicella separately, which is why the CDC allows either approach for the first dose.
Common (occurring in >10% of recipients):
Less common:
Rare:
Before the varicella vaccine, chickenpox caused about 100 deaths and 10,000+ hospitalizations per year in the U.S. Since routine vaccination began in 1995, chickenpox cases have declined by over 90%. The vaccine's benefits in preventing natural chickenpox complications far exceed the risks of reported adverse events.
Many VAERS reports for varicella involve co-administered vaccines (given at the same visit), making it difficult to attribute symptoms to any single vaccine.