vaccine

My Granddaughter was given the chicken pox vaccine by mistake. She is only six weeks old. What do we do?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Mr. Lee,

The varicella vaccine can be given to children as young as six months (though it as not usually given until later) and still be effective. Given at a younger age it may not provide immmunity. You canot reverse the vaccine, so there really isn't anything to do but watch for possible side effects: elevation of temperature, pain or irritation at the site of injection, thrombocytopenia (a blood platelet condition), rash. Your pediatrician should be consulted about the blood platelet side effect, in order to guide you about whether blood work will be done to investigate this.