PRODUCT DETAILS

About Okavax Vaccine

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) belongs to the class of medications called ‘immunizing agents’ used to prevent varicella or chickenpox. Chickenpox is a vaccine-preventable viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It is highly contagious, especially in people who have never had the disease or not been vaccinated against the disease. Symptoms include rash, small painful blisters, fever, sore throat, body pain.

Uses of Okavax Vaccine

Chickenpox prophylaxis

Medicinal Benefits of Okavax Vaccine

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) provides active immunization against varicella-zoster virus or chickenpox disease for healthy individuals above 9 months of age. It benefits people who are non-immune and at-risk of infection such as healthcare workers or workers in children's day-care centres, non-immune parents of young children, and non-immune household contacts of patients with weak immune systems with no history of the disease.  Vaccination within 3 days of exposure to the virus can reduce the risk of infection and the severity of the disease.

Directions for Use

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is available in the form of injection. It is given by a trained healthcare professional; so do not self-administer. VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is given under the skin or into the muscle. If given into the muscle, the upper arm area is preferred in adults and the thigh area is preferred in children. The injection is usually given under the skin if you have a blood clotting disorder or thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets).

Side Effects of Okavax Vaccine

• Fever
• Pain or redness at the injection site
• Swelling at the injection site

Similar Drugs

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

In-Depth Precautions and Warning

Drug Warnings

People who have been vaccinated with VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should avoid close contact for up to 6 weeks with the following individuals: who have not been previously vaccinated against chickenpox, children/adults/pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, who have a weak immune system or receiving immune suppressants, and new-born babies whose mother have never had chickenpox. Adults and children with weak immune systems who receive VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should be closely monitored as this vaccine is less effective in these people. In people who have undergone blood or plasma transfusion, who had taken human normal immunoglobulin or varicella-zoster immunoglobulin, VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) vaccine should be avoided or postponed for at least five months in these people. Besides, people should not receive any immunoglobulin medicines for one month following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED). You should not take pain killer (aspirin) for six weeks following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) as it may cause Reye syndrome (a severe condition that causes liver and brain damage). Women of childbearing potential should use reliable contraceptive methods as it is not recommended to get pregnant for one month following VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) vaccination.

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug Interaction:

 VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be given to patients taking immune suppressive therapy (tacrolimus, cyclosporine, and azathioprine, etc.) or high doses of corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone, etc.). VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may interact with a pain killer (aspirin) and cause Reye syndrome (a severe condition that causes liver and brain damage). VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may also interact with immunoglobulin therapy (human normal immunoglobulin and varicella-zoster immune globulin).

Drug-Disease Interaction:

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) should not be used in patients with cancer-related to blood (leukaemia) and immune system (lymphoma), HIV or AIDS, active untreated tuberculosis, and fever (higher than 38.50C).

Safety Advice

ALCOHOL

You are recommended not to consume alcohol along with VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) to avoid unpleasant side-effects.

PREGNANCY

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) is not recommended during pregnancy. It is advisable to consult a doctor before using it.

BREAST FEEDING

Consult your doctor, and there is no substantial research yet on the use of VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) in breastfeeding/nursing mothers.

DRIVING

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) may not affect your ability to drive.

LIVER

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) can be taken safely when prescribed. Usually, it does not affect the liver.

KIDNEY

VARICELLA (LIVE ATTENUATED) can be taken safely when prescribed. Usually, it does not affect the kidney.