Varicella vaccine in pregnancy: what to know

Varicella vaccine is a [Live Attenuated Vaccine](/materials/live-attenuated-vaccine/), and pregnancy affects when it may be offered. If you are unsure whether you have immunity to [Chickenpox](/conditions/chickenpox/), tell your maternity or primary-care team rather than arranging vaccination yourself. They can review your history, records and any relevant testing. Avoiding chickenpox infection matters because illness during pregnancy can affect both the pregnant person and the developing baby, with the level of concern changing according to the stage of pregnancy.

Raise varicella immunity at a pre-pregnancy appointment and bring vaccination records if you have them. Tell the clinician about immune-suppressing medicines, long-term conditions and previous reactions to vaccines. If vaccination is advised before pregnancy, ask when it is sensible to try to conceive and how to document the doses. If you are already pregnant and received a dose before you knew, contact your maternity team for advice; do not panic or arrange further doses without guidance. The [Chickenpox Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/chickenpox-vaccination/) page provides background, not a personal treatment plan.

Call a healthcare service promptly if you are pregnant and have close contact with someone with chickenpox or develop a fever, blistering rash, breathing symptoms or feel significantly unwell. Tell the team when the contact occurred and whether you know your immunity status. Seek emergency help for difficulty breathing, confusion, collapse or severe dehydration. Timely advice can help clinicians decide whether monitoring or preventive treatment is needed.

Ask whether your records show immunity, whether testing is useful, what to do after an exposure, and when vaccination could be considered after pregnancy. Ask which medicines or conditions should be discussed with the maternity and vaccination teams together.