Why do we not give the chickenpox vaccine in this country?

[RedPencilPot]

Does anyone know why? Is it the cost?

Ds has cp at the minute and I would have happily avoided it if I could for him!

[paddyclampo]

I've always wondered the same! DS (then aged 3) had a relatively mild dose but DD (then aged 1) was in a right mess - it was a hideous illness :(

[4PlusMum]

My sister called on Thursday in a right panic as my DC had been playing with her DC two days previously and her DD had just come out in pox. My DC have been vaccinated so it was no big deal.

Red, hope your DS feels better soon.

[LynetteScavo]

Because the vaccine only lasts 20 years, so everybody would have to have it every 20 years for life, which would be costly for an illness which is usually mild and not life threatening.

[NotCitrus]

They are still figuring out whether it raises the risk of shingles and if so how much, and how that needs to be weighed against cases of chicken pox. And the costs of getting it done. You can get it privately - if dd doesn't get it by age 8 or so I probably will pay, as cp as a teen or adult is nastier. Ds caught it age 3 but I was 16.

[ItsSpringBaby]

I would think it is probably due to the cost, and the fact that it is not really considered to be a life-threatening illness unless you have other health problems which lower immunity.

[paddyclampo]

It's pretty nasty though!

[WaxyDaisy]

Because they are suspicious the uptake might not be high enough, and it has the potential to shift the profile of those suffering disease to an older average age group, who generally experience worse effects. Or something like that. I'll see if I can find the full line.

[WaxyDaisy]

Summary of some of the issues.

Other western countries vaccinate.