Should My Child Get the Chickenpox Vaccine?
The varicella vaccine is part of Singapore's NCIP and free at polyclinics. Here is what parents need to know about the schedule, effectiveness, and why getting the vaccine beats getting the disease.
The NCIP Schedule
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is part of Singapore's National Childhood Immunisation Programme. Two doses are recommended and the vaccine is free at polyclinics for SC and PR children.
| Dose | Recommended Age | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dose | 12 months | Polyclinic | Free (NCIP) |
| 2nd dose | 15 to 18 months | Polyclinic | Free (NCIP) |
The varicella vaccine is also often given as a combination MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) or as a standalone varicella vaccine given separately at the same visit as MMR. Your polyclinic nurse will advise on the formulation used.
School entry requirement: Varicella vaccine is required (along with DTaP and MMR) for school enrolment in Singapore. Ensure both doses are completed before your child starts primary school.
How Effective Is the Chickenpox Vaccine?
The two-dose varicella vaccine schedule is highly effective:
Some vaccinated children do contract a mild form of chickenpox (called "breakthrough varicella") if exposed to the virus. In vaccinated children, breakthrough chickenpox is much milder, involves far fewer lesions (usually less than 50 compared to hundreds), heals faster, and carries far lower risk of complications.
What Happens If an Unvaccinated Child Gets Chickenpox
Chickenpox in unvaccinated children can range from mild to genuinely serious. It is not a harmless childhood rite of passage.
Common Experience
- 250 to 500 itchy spots/blisters over the body
- Fever for 3 to 5 days
- Highly contagious: 1 to 2 day before rash appears until all spots crust
- 10 to 14 days of isolation required
- Cannot attend school or childcare during the contagious period
Possible Complications
- Bacterial superinfection from scratching (Strep or Staph)
- Pneumonia (more common in adults and immunocompromised)
- Encephalitis (rare but serious brain inflammation)
- Cerebellar ataxia (balance problems after chickenpox)
- Scarring from deep lesions
Singapore schools continue to have chickenpox outbreaks among unvaccinated children and those for whom the first dose failed. The outbreaks typically spread rapidly in childcare and primary school settings.
Shingles: Why the Vaccine Is Better Than Getting the Disease
After a person has chickenpox (varicella), the virus does not leave the body. It lies dormant in nerve cells and can reactivate decades later as shingles (herpes zoster), a painful rash often affecting one side of the body or face.
Shingles is much more common and severe in older adults. Some people experience post-herpetic neuralgia, a persistent nerve pain that can last months or years after the shingles rash resolves.
Vaccination reduces shingles risk too: Children who receive the varicella vaccine carry a much lower viral load in their nerve cells than children who had natural chickenpox. This means vaccinated children have a significantly lower risk of developing shingles later in life. This is one more reason to vaccinate rather than accept natural infection.
Medical disclaimer: this content is for general informational purposes only. Vaccination decisions should be made in consultation with your paediatrician. For the current NCIP schedule, visit healthhub.sg.