The live attenuated varicella vaccine, which is available for the prev
ention of chickenpox, was produced by a classic technology that also h
as been used for polio, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. There ar
e many newer technologies that have been applied to the research and d
evelopment of other vaccines. Each of these other approaches offers po
tential advantages and disadvantages relative to the current varicella
vaccine.