VAR
Varicella (Chickenpox) (VAR)
VAR: 2 doses; first dose from 12 months; second dose at least 3 months after the first (CDC). The Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine protects against Chickenpox.
Typically required for school
Key takeaways
- On the routine, on-time schedule, VAR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start doesn't change the total number of VAR doses — it spaces them out.
- VAR can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. The dose count stays the same, but visits can be spread out. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
- None of the VAR products listed on this page contain an aluminum adjuvant.
- VAR is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages.
What changes when VAR is delayed?
On the routine, started-on-time schedule, VAR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start does not always change this, but for several vaccines the CDC's own catch-up rules mean a later start needs fewer total doses. Here is what applies to VAR:
- Always 2 doses; the first cannot be given before 12 months.
- For children under 13, doses are spaced ≥3 months apart.
The exact timing depends on your child's age and how you space visits. The spaced-out scheduler applies these rules automatically and shows the minimum doses still needed by your deadline. For a fuller look at timing, risks and catch-up, see the delay guide for VAR.
What brands and ingredients does the VAR vaccine have?
The US-licensed products below are listed with their manufacturer, aluminum content, preservative and egg flags, and full ingredient list. Each card links to the official CDC or FDA source. Formulations change — treat these as a starting point, not the final word.
Single-disease brands
Varivax
Merck
Live attenuated — no aluminum.
Ingredients (10)
- sucrose
- hydrolyzed gelatin
- monosodium L-glutamate
- sodium phosphate
- potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- MRC-5 human diploid cell components (DNA & protein)
- EDTA
- neomycin
- fetal bovine serum
Combination brands that include this vaccine
ProQuad
Merck · MMR + Varicella (MMRV)
Live vaccine — no aluminum.
Ingredients (11)
- sucrose
- hydrolyzed gelatin
- monosodium L-glutamate
- sodium phosphate
- recombinant human albumin
- sodium bicarbonate
- potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- MRC-5 cell components (DNA & protein)
- neomycin
- bovine calf serum
VAR vaccine FAQs
How many doses of VAR does my child need?
On the routine, on-time schedule, VAR is a 2-dose series. Delaying the start doesn't change the total number of VAR doses — it spaces them out.
Can the VAR vaccine be delayed or spaced out?
Yes. VAR can be given on a slower, spaced-out schedule. The dose count stays the same, but visits can be spread out. Minimum ages and intervals still apply, and the planner enforces them automatically.
Does the VAR vaccine contain aluminum?
No. None of the VAR products listed on this page contain an aluminum adjuvant.
Is VAR required for school?
VAR is required for kindergarten entry in most US states. Check your state's exact list on the requirements-by-state pages. See requirements by state.
Plan VAR on a slower schedule
See how many VAR doses your child would still need and when, on a spaced-out plan that finishes in time for school. Review the result with your child's healthcare practitioner.
Build my plan →Sources
Primary sources only. Links open the publisher's own page.
- CDC Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Catch-up Immunization Schedule (Table 2) (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Child and Adolescent Schedule Notes (opens in a new tab)
- CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Pink Book, Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- FDA Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States (opens in a new tab)
- CDC CDC Vaccine Excipient Summary (Appendix B) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — Varivax (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Merck PI — ProQuad (opens in a new tab)