How can I prevent chickenpox?

Maintaining high levels of varicella immunization in the community is critical to controlling the spread of chickenpox. To prevent further spread of chickenpox, people infected with the disease should remain home and avoid exposing others who are susceptible. Infected persons should remain home until the blisters become dry and crusted. It is very important to avoid exposing non-immune newborns and persons with a weakened immune system to chickenpox.

Varicella vaccination is recommended for outbreak control. During an outbreak, persons who do not have adequate evidence of immunity should receive their first or second dose as appropriate.

In 2006, a new product called VariZIG™ became available to protect patients without evidence of immunity to varicella who are at high risk for severe disease and complications and have been exposed to chickenpox. The patient groups recommended to receive VariZIG include those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women, newborns whose mothers have symptoms of varicella around the time of delivery (five days before to two days after delivery) and certain premature infants exposed to chickenpox as newborns.