Varilrix
Varilrix is a vaccine that helps protect against chickenpox for people 12 months and older, or 9 months in special cases.
Form
Injektiokuiva-aine ja liuotin liuosta varten, esitäytetty ruisku
Active Ingredient
Varicella zoster virus (Oka), live attenuated
Manufacturer
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA
How to Use
Dosage
For those 12 months or older, 2 doses are given, at least 6 weeks apart, but not less than 4 weeks apart. For infants 9-11 months in special cases, 2 doses are given at least 3 months apart. Your doctor decides the exact schedule.
Method
Varilrix is given as an injection under the skin or into a muscle, usually in the upper arm or outer thigh.
Important
Your doctor will decide the number and timing of doses; typically, one dose is given per session following specified intervals.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Pain at the injection site
- •Redness at the injection site
COMMON
- •Rash (pimples and/or blisters)
COMMON
- •Swelling at the injection site
COMMON
- •Fever of 38 °C or higher (measured rectally)
RARE
- •Upper respiratory tract infection
- •Sore throat and difficulty swallowing (pharyngitis)
- •Swollen lymph nodes
- •Irritability
- •Headache
- •Drowsiness
- •Cough
- •Itchy, runny, or stuffy nose, sneezing (rhinitis)
- •Nausea
- •Vomiting
- •Chickenpox-like rash
- •Itching
- •Joint pain
- •Muscle pain
- •Fever above 39.5 °C (measured rectally)
- •Lack of energy (fatigue)
- •General feeling of being unwell
- •Conjunctivitis (eye inflammation)
- •Abdominal pain
- •Diarrhea
- •Itchy, lumpy rash (hives)
- •Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- •Spinal cord and peripheral nerve infection or inflammation, leading to temporary difficulty walking or controlling body movements
- •Stroke (brain damage due to interrupted blood supply)
- •Seizures
- •Shingles (herpes zoster)
- •Small, pinpoint bleeding under the skin or easy bruising due to a low platelet count
- •Allergic reactions (rash, swelling of eyes/face, difficulty breathing/swallowing, sudden blood pressure drop, loss of consciousness)
- •Blood vessel inflammation, narrowing, or blockage (e.g., Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Kawasaki disease)
- •Erythema multiforme (red, often itchy spots, like measles rash, starting on limbs and sometimes face/body)
Important Warnings
- Do not get the vaccine if you or your child has a blood disorder, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or are taking medicines that weaken the immune system (except low-dose corticosteroids for asthma).
- Do not get the vaccine if you or your child is allergic to any ingredient in this vaccine. Signs of an allergic reaction include itchy rash, shortness of breath, and swelling of the face or tongue.
- Do not get the vaccine if you or your child is allergic to neomycin (an antibiotic). Contact your doctor if you have contact dermatitis due to neomycin.
- Do not get the vaccine if you or your child had an allergic reaction to a previous chickenpox vaccine.
- Do not get the vaccine if you are pregnant, and avoid getting pregnant for one month after vaccination.
Show 6 more warnings
- If you or your child has a severe infection with high fever, vaccination may need to be postponed until recovery. For mild infections like a cold, check with your doctor first.
- Talk to your doctor if you or your child has a bleeding disorder or bruises easily.
- Fainting can occur with any needle injection. Tell your doctor or nurse if you or your child has fainted during an injection before.
- For 6 weeks after vaccination, try to avoid close contact with people who have weakened immune systems, pregnant women who haven't had chickenpox or been vaccinated, and newborns whose mothers haven't had chickenpox or been vaccinated.
- Vaccination should be delayed for at least 3 months if you or your child has received a blood transfusion or human antibodies (immunoglobulins).
- Avoid using salicylates (like Aspirin) for 6 weeks after Varilrix vaccination, as it may cause a serious condition called Reye's syndrome.