to think that if you can afford it, you should vaccinate your kids against chicken pox.

[Gluebingham]

Horrid disease. Some shrug it off, some don't. But you can vaccinate against it for around £200. Surely if you can afford it then why not do it?

[GhostofMammaTJ]

I would have had I know about the vaccine before my DC had it. My DS, the youngest of the three, suffered horribly, but nowhere near as badly as you can from it. I cannot really afford it either, but would have found the money.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Because it does protect against all strains of the virus and at best you have a 1 in 4 chance of still catching chicken pox. For a vaccine it is relatively ineffective.

[Gluebingham]

That's interesting lonecatkitten, and far from what our Doc told us. She said after 1 dose our children would likely be fully immune and that the second dose is for longevity of protection.

[wannaBe]

yabu. ridiculous idea. We are too vaccination happy in this country. I'm all in favour of vaccinating against serious childhood illnesses but chicken pox is not one of them. And vaccination does not guarantee lifelong immunity so you are then more likely to catch it as an adult when there is far more risk of complications.

Serious complications from chicken pox are incredibly rare.

Far better for children to catch it while they're young, and then gain lifelong immunity.

[laptopcomputer]

Almost everyone I know who had the vaccine has gone on to have chicken pox. Including the ones who had the vaccine n America - most of the people I know who have given kids c pox vaccine did it because they were living in America when kids were the right age and I think it is done routinely over there? (Just to explain, I know so many pepople who had small kids in america because of DHs work!)

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

I'd never hear of this. But i just did a google check on it and it seems there is a chance it could increase the risk of shingles in later life.

[Softlysoftly]

Friends toddlers got CP in Oz while they were visiting, must have incubated it from here. Loads of teenagers they had come into contact with then got CP quite severely as they had been vaccinated and hadn't had it as kids. the vaccine didn't protect them.

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8557236.stm

[Lonecatwithkitten]

American Academy of paediatricians report vaccine as only being 70% effective at preventing disease. Really in my eyes as some one who does a lot of vaccinating (animals) that is a very poor response rate. An animal vaccine would not get approved unless it prevent disease in more than 95% of cases.

[Posterofapombear]

Chicken pox might not have major serious side effects but I have a 10 inch scar on my face from chicken pox. It's beautiful.

[Valdeeves]

I heard that in Canada and America it's on their vaccine program but here we don't do it because of the expense. I had myself vaccinated as I'be never had before I decided to conceive again. It cost £140 ( two jabs - £70 each) and want to get my son vaccinated. We have a prem baby though and as its a live vaccine we have to wait.

[forevergreek]

It also increases the chances of shingles as an adult.

Shingles as an adult are usually far worse than v bad chickenpox

[ScaryFakeNails]

Why wouldn't I? Yes there are plenty of good reasons as posted above but quite simply its only chicken pox.

[Duritzfan]

My dd and ds were vac'd against it - we lived in the US - they have to have it if they are to attend school there ..

DD went onto get c-pox three times .. And DS has had it twice ...
DD2 will NOT be having it ....

[MrsTerryPratchett]

They vaccinate for it here (Canada) and DD had the jab but still got CP. I got CP twice as a child and I don't know if there is a genetic link or we are just unlucky. I didn't know it increased the likelihood of shingles. That is nasty.

[Gluebingham]

www.livescience.com/9233-double-dose-doses-chickenpox-vaccine.html

Quite compelling - 98% prevention after 2 doses.

[Gluebingham]

And apparently it prevents shingles in 50% of cases and those who do get shingles get a milder dose and drastically reduced post herpatic neuralgia.

[lucyellenmum]

Well, i can't afford to vaccinate my DD, so thanks for that, now i feel like shit because i can't afford £200 to protect my DD.

[Gluebingham]

Lucyellensmum wtf?

[apostropheuse]

My children all had it within weeks of one another and honestly they weren't at all ill. They had an itchy rash and I smothered them in lotion. I also had it as a child and had no problems other than the itch.

I personally wouldn't vaccinate against it.

[gimmecakeandcandy]

It decreases the chance of shingles actually.

Yanbu and I have had both mine vaccinated against it. People are much too blasé about chicken pox.

[xkcdfangirl]

Looking after a child with chicken pox gives an immunity boost to the adults around the child and helps prevent them from getting shingles too. It's really not that good an idea to vaccinate in this instance given that this illness is usually mild and free from complication.

[tethersend]

I vaccinated DD1 and will vaccinate DD2 when she's old enough. It cost £100.

There is also a vaccine for shingles now, so I believe the only reason it's not part of the vaccine schedule in the UK is cost.

[lucyellenmum]

Well actually, i think you are barking mad really and have been ripped off and see no need to vaccinate my DD against a condition that is, in the scheme of things, pretty trivial. Over vaccination is a bad thing you know.

But my point is this - you come on here all holier than thou pretty much implying that anyone who doesn't chose this is making the wrong parenting choice. If i could afford it, i woudlnt do it, but i actually can't afford £200 for a vaccination just now, so if i were niave enough to believe what you have posted id be feeling really upset now that i coudlnt do this for my child.

[gimmecakeandcandy]

Just because it is sometimes 'free of complication' it doesn't mean it is a 'good' idea at all not to vaccinate! Mumps is usually free of complication too but you would still vaccinate against that wouldn't you?

I don't think many people understand how serious chicken pox can be.