A live attenuated varicella vaccine was licensed in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in March 1995. The manufacturer is currently preparing to license the vaccine in Europe. It is now possible for the first time to prevent varicella infection in pregnancy by vaccination before pregnancy. This raises the question of whether the vaccine should be offered to all women of childbearing age who are not known to be immune to varicella. Varicella is a highly contagious infection, caused by a DNA herpes virus. Infection occurs in 0.05-0.07% of all pregnancies. Non-immune pregnant women are at risk, as are all susceptible adults, for associated complications and mortality when they contract varicella. Furthermore, intra-uterine infection may result in stillbirth or congenital varicella syndrome, characterised by eye defects, limb hypoplasia, skin lesions, and neurological abnormalities.
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