Chickenpox vaccine help please

[Nannylookingforafamily]

Hello.

Can anyone tell me any pros and cons of the chickenpox vaccine please.

For a 3 year old girl.

Can anyone recommend a private clinic in London.

Many thanks

[Nannylookingforafamily]

Also, if she has the vaccine, would she have to stay away from elderly people?

Thank you

[snowgirl1]

When we had DD vaccinated, we weren't told to keep her away from elderly people.

[Ktmummy1]

I wish I'd had my daughter vaccinated. Big pro = no scarring.

[BlackSwan]

No cons. Pro is no pox, no complications, no itching, no scarring, no contagiousness, no time off nursery, school, work....
Call the Portland Hospital and ask the switch for a paediatrician who can administer it.

[Ktmummy1]

Should be available so much more widely. Makes me cross that it is hard to get your child vaccinated against this horrible (and severe in our case) virus!

[Teapot13]

We used Dr. Fang at the Portland. Budget for two separate injections -- it isn't cheap.

It's part of the required schedule in the US (I'm American), so that's why we did it.

I have read that the reason it isn't in mainstream use in the UK is because of concerns that vaccinating all the children will mean more elderly people get shingles -- apparently all the virus going around keeps shingles at bay. I don't know (and don't know if anyone knows, really) how having the vaccine affects one's chances of getting shingles later in life.

[JellyTipisthebest]

It doesn't last for ever so you need to get a new one. You then have the virus so could get shingles. I would of got it for my kids if they hadn't had it by the time they got to high school. Unless there is a reason for them to have it i wouldn't get it. |We have amine systems for a reason if we vaccinate against things that don't normally kill they have to do something maybe that's why we now have lots of allergies.

[StonedGalah]

Where are you OP. We got dd done when she was 3 at a private clinic in Clapham Junction near the station.

[cloudjumper]

Why do you need to go to a private clinic? We had our DS's done at our GP, no fuss. It was about £60 per shot.

[StonedGalah]

Because our GP didn't do it. Pretty logical really

[captainproton]

We did our kids at Babyjabs. Our Nurse at the GP surgery looked at me blankly when I asked and then almost laughed at the idea.

Anyway you have to have 2 jabs, I can't quite remember how long between each one. It's a live virus I think and the kids get flu like symptoms 2 weeks after the first one.

Don't OAPs get a shingles jab now?

[sleeplessbunny]

I got my 2 vaccinated at the local GP: just had to pay for the cost of the vaccine (£25 per shot, they need 2 each). Not all GPs will do it but a lot will if you ask. If they do it will most likely be the cheapest option.

It is a live vaccine (like MMR, I believe in other countries it is given as a combined vaccine with the MMR) so some reaction in the first 24hrs is common. I think of it like just getting a very mild dose of chicken pox: you are effectively training the immune system to recognise the infection. It does mean a vaccinated person has just the same risk of getting shingles later in life as someone who has had chicken pox.

The vaccine has existed for many years, is given on the NHS to vulnerable groups, and is given routinely in a number of other western countries. Personally I believe it is pretty barbaric that we expect kids here to suffer the illness and the potential risks that come with it.

[sleeplessbunny]

1 of mine had a mild reaction to their first dose (slight temp that evening, gone the next day). The other had no reaction at all. We were never advised to keep away from old people.

[sebsmummy1]

The main thing putting me off is the shingles argument too. Shingles is particularly painful I understand.

[BabyMum1]

We had it at babyjabs in London when he was 14 mo, second jab gave him a mild form of pox with fever few spots etc
For my second I ll wait till he's 2 before I do it as too many vaccine at the same time
Whole of Europe does it other than us so I wouldn't worry about it - I did it too when I was a baby

[adoptmama]

Did it for DD2 when 5 y/o as she is epileptic (and seizures are worse with fever/illness) and DD1 had a suspected case. No downside for us at all, no adverse reactions at all.

[adoptmama]

Ours was single dose, not two injections.

[bumbleymummy]

pros, it may prevent your child contracting CP.

cons, it does not provide lifelong immunity. If your immunity wanes as an adult you are more likely to have complications if you contract CP. The vaccine doesn't work as well in adults so you may be left without immunity when you are more vulnerable. NHS link for info on the vaccine

Personally, seeing as it is usually a mild/self limiting disease in children ( See NHS link) I think it makes more sense to allow them to contract it when they are young and have lifelong immunity to it unless they fall into one of the groups mentioned in the above link . If they have not contracted by the time they are teenagers then I think it makes sense to vaccinate - particularly girls given that CP can cause complications if contracted during pregnancy.

Good luck with your decision.

[LHReturns]

Ours was a single dose too at our (private, central London) GP's office ...gave it to him at 12 months, 4 weeks before MMR...absolutely no side effects whatsoever.

We are 5 days post MMR now, so waiting for fever etc!