Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
                  651-201-5414
                  Varicella Information for Health Professionals
On this page:
Reporting
Laboratory testing
Clinical features and epidemiology
Varicella in health care settings
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Vaccine information
ACIP Recommendations and MMWR reports
Reporting
- Reporting Varicella (Chickenpox)
 Find out who should report varicella to the Minnesota Department of Health, which forms to use, and when to call.
- Why You Report All Cases of Varicella
 Information for clinicians on case-based reporting for varicella. All cases of varicella are required to be reported to MDH.
Laboratory testing
- Laboratory Testing for Varicella (Chickenpox) and Zoster (Shingles)
 Information on when and how to test for varicella or zoster disease.
Clinical features and epidemiology
- CDC: Clinical Overview of Chickenpox (Varicella)
 CDC information about chickenpox for health care professionals.
- CDC: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
 CDC's Pink Book.
- CDC: Photos of Chickenpox
 CDC photographs of people with varicella. Warning: Graphic medical images.
Varicella in health care settings
- Managing Varicella Exposures in Health Care Settings
 Quick reference for managing exposures to varicella in health care settings.
- Ensuring Immunity to Varicella in Health Care Workers
 Information for making sure health care workers are immune to varicella.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Vaccine information
Varicella Vaccine Product Information and VIS
| Generic name | Manufacturer | Prescribing information | VIS | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) | Merck | Merck: ProQuad (PDF) | CDC: MMRV Vaccine VIS | 
| Varicella (Var) | Merck | Merck: Varivax (PDF) | CDC: Varicella Vaccine VIS | 
- Immunize.org: Ask the Experts: Varicella Vaccine
 Experts from the CDC answer challenging questions about vaccines and their administration.
- Immunization
 Immunization information and resources for families, schools and child care, and health care providers. Health care provider information includes immunization best practices, immunization rates and access to the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC).
ACIP Recommendations and MMWR reports
- CDC: ACIP Recommendations Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
 CDC listing of recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
- CDC: Chickenpox (Varicella) References and Resources
 CDC compilation of chapters, guidelines, recommendations, and journal articles related to varicella.
          Last Updated: 06/24/2025