• Varicella (Chickenpox)
  • Vaccine Safety

Can a young child, who was recently vaccinated for chickenpox, spread the vaccine virus to other household members?

Available data suggest that healthy children are unlikely to transmit vaccine virus. Transmission of vaccine virus to a household contact has rarely been documented. It appears that transmission of vaccine virus occurs mostly, or perhaps even exclusively, when the vaccinated person develops a rash following vaccination.

Last reviewed: May 16, 2023

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