The chickenpox vaccine protects against the varicella zoster virus that causes chicken pox. The chickenpox vaccine is not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule.

Chickenpox is a common childhood infection. Usually, it’s mild and complications are rare. Almost all children develop immunity to chickenpox after infection, so most only catch it once. The disease can be more severe in adults.

The chickenpox vaccine is a live vaccine and contains a small amount of weakened chickenpox-causing virus.

The vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies that will help protect against chickenpox.

The vaccine is given as 2 separate injections, usually into the upper arm, 4 to 8 weeks apart.