To consider vaccinating against chicken pox?

[Chipshopninja]

It used to be the done thing to have chicken pox parties, so your child caught it as young as possible

Now though it seems there's more and more information on how dangerous it can be.
Apparently 10 children in the UK die from CP every year (read that somewhere earlier but don't have a link sorry)

My 2 nieces have had it recently and I'm considering getting ds (3) vaccinated

There's a local clinic that does it for 65 pounds

Aibu?

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

My older two had it last year and they recovered quickly but it wasn't fun. The younger of the two has eczema and suffered badly but fortunately no scarring.

I was hoping to vaccinate my 3 month old at some point as he too has eczema and I'd hate to see him suffer like his big brother did. But I've read so many conflicting opinions about the pros and cons and my GP practice hasn't been very useful / informative / supportive (though nothing new there!).

Would love to hear others' opinions and will watch this thread with interest.

[acelticconfection]

Got my two done, very glad I did as DH needed chemo a couple of years later. They've veen vaccinating against chicken pox in many other countries for years

[ChunkyPickle]

I would have, but then DS1 caught it when DS2 was 3 weeks old..

And that pox mousse stuff meant that he came out of it pretty much unscathed despite being covered from head to toe.

They're rolling out the shingles vaccine at the moment aren't they? So give it a few years and I expect chicken pox will follow (a bit late for kids now I admit)

[Trapper]

I don't think chicken pox parties were ever the done thing tbh.

[Noseypoke]

Also watching with interest. My two haven't had CP yet and as DS has bad asthma I was considering having them vaccinated.

[RosePetels]

I got vaccinated as a child, you should do it.

[nooka]

Both my children had CP when they were at nursery. They had an unhappy week with it, but it was pretty mild. Later we moved to the States and we had to have a blood test to prove that they were immune as US schools and summer schemes require proof of vaccination. The jabs would have been a lot less painful than the blood tests!

[StonedGalah]

Yanbu, I don't know why you wouldn't tbh.

[nooka]

Oh and my parents were advocates of chicken pox parties (and measles and mumps too).

[steff13]

It's part of the regular vaccination schedule here (US). I am always surprised when I see a CP thread on here; my oldest son is 16, and it's been at least that long since I've known of a child who actually had CP. I got CP when I was 5, and it was horrible. I got spots in my nose, my ears, my mouth, my throat. IMO, the vaccine is preferable.

[chandelierswinger]

I was looking into it as DC2 caught it. Wish I'd been able to vaccinate as my fears were confirmed- DC2 was proper rough.

[Kiwiinkits]

We got our little girls vaxxed for CP because I'm expecting a baby and I really didn't want two sick kids and a newborn to care for. Which is exactly what happened to my friend - that made our decision easy!

[hazeyjane]

Make sure that the vaccine is 2 jabs (it may be £65 per jab - it is here)

Ds was vaccinated, as he has underlying health conditions. There are a very small percentage of children that will still catch chicken pox - ds was one of them, I was still extremely glad he had had the vaccine, as he had it very mildly (about 6 spots), with no side effects.

[CaramellaDeVille]

I've had my two vaccinated against it. I couldn't find a compelling reason not to tbh.

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

chandelierswinger I was looking into it as DC2 caught it.

Yes us too! Looking into it and then the boys (then just-turned 7 and nearly 4) caught it.

The nurse who gave my middle one his other vaccinations poo-pooed it when I queried how to get the CP vaccination. She said it's so mild they don't need it otherwise it'd be included in the inoculation schedule. Is this just the NHS standard line?

[caravanista13]

My children are adults now, but one of them had it very badly as a child. I would definitely vaccinate.

[PinguForPresident]

Both of mine had it as babies, but if they hadn't, I'd have vaccinated in a heartbeat. DS was properly poorly with it.

[waxweasel]

I got DD vaccinated a few months ago, with the booster last night. It was really easy, didn't seem to sting much compared to other jabs, and no reaction at all. So glad we had it done as all her friends have had CP this spring and have suffered with it (and their mum/dad being stuck indoors with them....). Plus I'm now pg so I'd have fretted about her getting it while I'm expecting or with a newborn next spring.

[ReginaFelangi]

The vaccine isn't as efficient as the body at providing the antibodies.

[waxweasel]

Sorry, booster last month, not last night!

[Chipshopninja]

Is that right Regina?

[ReginaFelangi]

I'm sure that's one of the reasons it's not given by the NHS.

[TravellingToad]

I looked into it and they have to have a repeat injection when they're adults (it only lasts 20 years or so) so if they can't be arsed they will end up with CP as adults which is much worse.

[ReginaFelangi]

"The chickenpox vaccine is made from live, attenuated (weakened) varicella virus. Unlike the type of immunity acquired from experiencing the disease, the vaccine provides only TEMPORARY immunity, and that immunity is not the same kind of superior, longer lasting immunity you get when you recover naturally from chickenpox."

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/04/23/chickenpox-vaccine.aspx