Can Getting More Than Two Doses Of Chicken Pox Vaccine Cause Any Side Effects?

Posted on Mon, 9 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 9 Jun 2014 Answered on

Mon, 7 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My almost 18 year old got a chicken pox vaccination in 1998 (2 1/2yr old), came down with a mild case of chicken
pox 8 - 14 days later and got a booster in 2008. On his annual visit before college starts his new doctor misread his chart and administered another booster today in 2014. Therefore he has had 2 boosters vs. the 1 required. Can this lead to any side effects or to shingles in an almost 18 year old. What should I watch out for. What can I do? I'm concerned this was unnecessary and harmful.

Answered by Dr. Eric Goldstein (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Chicken Pox Booster

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question.

you are correct that the current recommendation by the CDC and the XXXXXXX Academy of Pediatrics is for patients to receive two doses of chicken pox vaccine.
However, there is no harm done if more than two are received. So although the third dose was definitely unnecessary, it was in no way harmful.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar