title: Varicella virus vaccine before pregnancy. Important breakthrough in protecting fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Now that the new varicella virus vaccine is available, should I vaccinate all my female patients of reproductive age who do not remember having had chickenpox in childhood?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In North America, seven out of 10 women who do not remember having chickenpox in childhood actually had it and are immune. You should test their immunity and, if they are susceptible, vaccinate them. Ensure they are not pregnant at the time of vaccination because the vaccine's safety has not been proven.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine