Are there any precautions or restrictions associated with the chicken pox vaccine?

Yes: Not recommended under 1 year of age, to organ transplant recipients, to people getting chemotherapy or immunosuppression for other conditions, have aids or other low-immunity diseases, and to people with other rare conditions.

Yes: As with other vaccines, chicken pox vaccine should not be given to children with a moderate or severe illness with or without fever until well. Pregnant women and children receiving high dose steroids or with certain immunodeficiencies should not be immunized. Anyone with an anaphylactic allergy to neomycin or gelatin should also not be immunized.

Yes: Since the chicken pox vaccine is a "live" vaccine, it should not be given to someone with an abnormal immune system, or to someone taking medication that suppresses the immune system. This includes cancer and transplant patients. Likewise, if there is a close contact of your child with any of these conditions, the vaccine should not be given.