Chicken Pox Vaccine

VARIVAX – Merck – Product Insert
http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/varivax/varivax_pi.pdf

VARIVAX is a preparation of live, attenuated varicella virus.  The virus was initially obtained from a child with natural varicella, then introduced into human embryonic lung cell cultures, adapted to and propagated in embryonic guinea pig cell cultures and finally propagated in human diploid cell cultures (WI-38) from aborted fetal tissue. (See page 6)

"Post-marketing experience suggests that transmission of vaccine virus may occur rarely between healthy vaccinees who develop a varicella-like rash and healthy susceptible contacts.  Transmission of vaccine virus from a mother who did not develop a varicella-like rash to her newborn infant has been reported.  Due to the concern for transmission of vaccine virus, vaccine recipients should attempt to avoid whenever possible close association with susceptible high-risk indiviuals for up to six weeks following vaccination with VARIVAX." (Page 3)

“The duration of protection of VARIVAX is unknown; however, long-term efficacy studies have demonstrated continued protection up to 10 years after vaccination.” (Page 7)

 “Avoid use of salicylates (aspirin) or salicylate-conataining products in children and adloescents 12 months through 17 years of age for six weeks following vaccination with VARIVAX because of the association of Reye Syndrome with asprirn therapy and wild-type varicella infection.  (Page 3)

“Pregnancy should be avoided for three months following vaccination.” (Page 3)

Post-marketing adverse reactions: Anaphylaxis (including anaphylactic shock) and related phenomena such as angioneurotic edema, facial edema, and peripheral edema, thrombocytopenia (including ITP), Encephalitis; cerebrovascular accident; transverse myelitis; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Bell's palsy; ataxia; non-febrile seizures; aseptic meningitis; dizziness; paresthesia, pharyngitis, pneumonia/pneumonitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome; erythema multiforme; Henoch-Schönlein purpura; secondary bacterial infections of skin and soft tissue, including impetigo and cellulitis; herpes zoster. (Page 5)

VARIVAX Ingredients: sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, gelatin, monosodium L-glutamate, sodium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate monobasic, potassium chloride, EDTA, residual components of MRC-5 cells including DNA and protein, neomycin, fetal bovine serum, human diploid cell cultures (WI-38), embryonic guinea pig cell cultures, human embryonic lung cultures
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf
 

 
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