[Varicella vaccination: who should be vaccinated these days?].

In July 2004 the STIKO (German National Commission for Vaccinations) recommended routine varicella vaccination (together with the first MMR vaccination) for all healthy infants. The previous recommendations for vaccination of adolescents with no history of varicella and patient groups at risk remain valid. In persons with severely depressed cellular immunity or pregnant women vaccination with live attenuated VZV vaccines is contraindicated. Experience gained in the United States show that widespread introduction of VZV vaccination results in a decrease in both the incidence of varicella and concomitant complications including herpes zoster.