[Hol]

Hi my son is 4 yrs old he has had the chicken pox shot to prevent it but yesterday my neighbors daughter was over and today she called saying her daughter has chicken poxs is there a big chance my son will get them? Or does the shot work well to prevent them? If anyone could help that would be great... and one more thing when I was young I got chicken pox for 2 days is there a chance of me getting them again?

[J_9]

The varicella shot does not prevent chicken pox 100% of the time, but it is great to have given your child. Chances are your son will not get it, but there is no way to say for certain. If your son does get them the symptoms will most likely be milder than without the shot.

Can you get them again? No. Once you have had chicken pox, no matter how mild, you cannot get it again. However, there is a slight possibility you can get Shingles, which is the Varicella virus (the same virus that causes chicken pox), but it does manifest in a much different way. However, that risk is slight.