Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Varicella-Zoster Vaccine? Is Varicella-Zoster Vaccine safe for nursing mother and child? Does Varicella-Zoster Vaccine extracts into breast milk? Does Varicella-Zoster Vaccine has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Varicella-Zoster Vaccine influence milk supply or can Varicella-Zoster Vaccine decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Varicella-Zoster Vaccine lactation summary

Varicella-Zoster Vaccine is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Varicella-Zoster Vaccine is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Varicella-Zoster Vaccine is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Varicella-Zoster Vaccine does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Varicella-Zoster Vaccine safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Varicella-Zoster Vaccine usage in lactation

It is an attenuated strain of Varicellae herpes virus. Vaccines are usually compatible with breastfeeding either if they are formed by live, attenuated, inactivated, death strains or microorganism toxoid. They are not excreted into breast milk and do not cause harm to the infant, except for rubella vaccine, but the virus usually does not infect the infant or if infection does occur, it is well tolerated because the virus is attenuated. Yellow fever vaccine has a higher risk for harm effect on infants younger than 6 months old (Consult information on a particular vaccine at our web). Breastfeeding may enhance antibody response to vaccines and cause fewer side effects as fever or anorexia. Early postpartum period is appropriate to get mothers vaccinated against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella in case they were not immunized. Breastfeeding mothers should be protected by providing recommended vaccination for adult
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