Chickenpox Vaccine - Vaccines and your baby - The children's hospital of Philadelphia - 5 of 14

>> HERE'S HOW THE CHICKENPOX VACCINE WAS MADE. ♪♪ THE CHICKENPOX VIRUS WAS TAKEN FROM A LITTLE BOY WITH CHICKENPOX IN JAPAN IN THE 1960S. THE CHICKENPOX VIRUS WAS THEN GROWN IN SPECIALIZED CELLS IN THE LABORATORY. AS THE VIRUS GOT BETTER AND BETTER AT GROWING IN THE LABORATORY, IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE AT GROWING IN CHILDREN. SO THE CHICKENPOX VACCINE REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF TWO WORLDS. ON THE ONE HAND, THE VACCINE VIRUS DOESN'T GROW VERY WELL IN CHILDREN, SO IT DOESN'T CAUSE DISEASE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE VACCINE VIRUS GROWS WELL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE SHIELD OF LONG-LASTING IMMUNITY. >> HE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB WITH HIM. >> THE NEXT VACCINE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS USUALLY THE FIRST VACCINE THAT BABIES GET. IT'S GIVEN TO PREVENT A COMMON INFECTION OF THE LIVER.