More Than an Itchy Rash.
Real Complications, Real Prevention.
Chickenpox spreads fast and can lead to skin infections, pneumonia, and — decades later — shingles. Two doses, given at home by a certified nurse, prevent it almost entirely.
Highly Contagious, Not Harmless
Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus and spreads easily through the air and by direct contact with the blister fluid. The classic sign is an itchy, fluid-filled rash that appears in crops over several days, along with fever and fatigue.
Most children recover without incident, but real complications happen: bacterial skin infections from scratching, pneumonia (especially in teens and adults), and rarely encephalitis. Adults who catch it tend to get sicker than children do.
The virus doesn't fully leave the body after infection — it can lie dormant for decades and reactivate later in life as shingles, a separate, often painful condition.
Fever + itchy blister rash
Appears in crops over several days, most infectious just before the rash shows
Spreads through the air
Airborne and by direct contact with blister fluid — very easily transmitted
Adults get it worse
Teens and adults face higher rates of pneumonia and hospitalisation than young children
Can return as shingles
The same virus can reactivate decades later — the reason adult booster protection exists
Who Should Get the Chickenpox Vaccine
The IAP schedule recommends two doses for every child; anyone who missed both as a child and never had chickenpox should catch up as an adult.
Children, 1st dose at 12–15 months
The primary childhood dose, per the IAP immunisation schedule.
Children, 2nd dose at 4–6 years
Completes the two-dose series for full protection.
Unvaccinated adults
Anyone who never had chickenpox and never got both doses should catch up — adult infection is more severe.
Household contacts of newborns
Protecting caregivers reduces the risk of exposing infants too young to be vaccinated themselves.
Teachers & childcare workers
High exposure to a highly contagious, airborne virus in group settings.
Women planning pregnancy
Get vaccinated before conceiving — the vaccine itself can't be given during pregnancy.
“Parents often assume chickenpox is a rite of passage every child has to go through. It isn't. I've treated the secondary skin infections and the rare but real complications firsthand — two doses at home, on schedule, prevents nearly all of it. And it's worth remembering the same virus can come back decades later as shingles, so this isn't just a childhood decision.”
— Dr. Gagan M.S. Malhotra, Founder & Senior Paediatrician
IAP EB Member · IAP Vaccinology Certified · 23 years in practice
Common Questions
How many doses does the chickenpox vaccine need?
Two doses. The IAP schedule recommends the first dose at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years. If starting later in childhood or as an adult, your pediatrician will advise the right gap between doses based on age at the first shot.
Can adults get the chickenpox vaccine if they missed it as a child?
Yes — adults who never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated can and should catch up. Adults tend to get more severe disease than children if they catch the actual infection, making vaccination more important, not less.
Is the chickenpox vaccine safe during pregnancy?
No — it's a live vaccine and isn't given during pregnancy. If you're planning a pregnancy and aren't sure whether you're immune, get vaccinated (or tested) beforehand — chickenpox caught during pregnancy carries real risk to the baby.
Is chickenpox really connected to shingles?
Yes, directly — both are caused by the same virus, Varicella-Zoster. After a chickenpox infection (or in rare cases, even after vaccination), the virus can lie dormant and reactivate decades later as shingles. See our dedicated Shingles vaccine page for adult reactivation protection.
Which brand do you use — Varilrix or Variped?
We stock both. Varilrix and Variped are both live-attenuated Varicella vaccines with equivalent protection; your pediatrician can advise if either is preferable for your child's situation.
Also protecting against the same virus family later in life? See our Shingles vaccine page.
Book the Chickenpox Vaccine at Home
Varilrix or Variped. Certified nurse. Cold-chain verified. Paediatrician consultation included. Delhi NCR.