Chickenpox vaccine gov petition

[awaywego]

What are your thoughts on paying for vaccine privately?

I've come across a petition to allow free NHS vaccination if anybody's interested in signing.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/127861

[MintyBojingles]

I don't think it's necessary TBH, and I've campaigned to get other vaccines through.

I'd pay for it if a child hadn't had it by teen years, maybe there should be nhs vaccine available then?

[mrsvilliers]

AFAIK it was discussed and rejected by NICE. It's a good vaccine but it would be offered alongside the current MMR and ultimately it was decided that could cause more confusion in an already low uptake. I think minty's idea is a good one as it can be pretty horrific in teens and adults but generally stays mild in children.

[2010sll]

I have vaccinated my daughter. She's six. Pretty standard in many other countries. Yes, it's not generally dangerous in children but complications can occur and at best, it's pretty uncomfortable.

[Bolograph]

The risks of M, M and R are greater, and the bollocks about "too many vaccines" and "stress on the immune system" and the rest are still causing scarily low uptake. Adding another to the standard NHS offer could be counter-productive, as it may well cause takeup of MMR to fall yet further.

Could someone medical comment on the current status of the hypothesis that it's regular exposure to ambient chickenpox which keeps shingles suppressed (ie, if there's less chicken pox in the environment, people who have already had it would be at greater risk of shingles from reservoirs of the virus in their own system)? It's one of those things with the ring of "truthiness", but is there evidence?

[cookiefiend]

I too would like to understand the thing about shingles and the CP vaccine. Does it mean that the individual who has been vaccinated is more at risk from shingles (my understanding is no) or that the herd as a whole is more at risk?

I have been considering getting my DC vaccinated as we have a close relative who is unwell in a long term hospital. We keep picking up different bugs and can't visit, which is a bit rubbish and CP would no doubt be a good fortnight before they both had it and I felt safe to visit again. I am tempted to do this, unless it puts them at more risk later of shingles.

[Daisyandbabies]

I would be worried that it wouldn't offer as much protection as getting chicken pox itself and my daughter then getting it while pregnant. An American girl a know was vaccinated and then recently had it when she had a newborn and was pretty ill and worried about her baby catching it

[2010sll]

Hi, I did extensive research and sought medical advice prior to getting my daughter the CP vaccine. Here's what I know.

No vaccine guarantees life long immunity. Vaccines effects work better in some people to others. Varicella vaccine has been around for 30 years and so far, has provided 30 years immunity for (please note a 2 dose schedule has proven more effective than the original 1 shot that was given to children) in most people. Live vaccines should provide life-long immunity in most people. Even MMR's immunity duration remains unknown currently www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/mmr-questions-answers.aspx

Research continues into all vaccines. If it's found we need a further dose of mmr in later life, we will know about it. Same applies to chicken pox vaccine. I personally had rubella as the vaccine wasn't available and my brother had measles despite being vaccinated.

The main reasons we do not get the CP vaccine on the NHS are:
Cost
Uptake might be lower as they would most likely combine and use the MMRV shot.
Possible increase in shingles of older generations who had CP

My doctor told me the main reason was cost.

Re shingles, there is no evidence that shingles has increased since theCP vaccine was introduced in other countries. An anti-vac website will of course say it has.

If you have the CP vaccine, that will lay dormant in you just like the "wild virus" so vaccinated people can still get shingles. However, current research shows that those vaccinated are far less likely to get shingles and if they do, it should be mild.

You cannot catch shingles. You have to have had CP or the vaccine.

You can catch chicken pox from shingles if you touch the fluid from the blisters and have never had CP or the vaccine.

If you are vaccinated against chicken pox but do go on to get chicken pox, you should just get a mild dose, eg, less than 20 spots.

There's no "herd immunity" for CP in the UK but those vaccinated against it, should get natural immunity boosters whenever they come across chicken pox knowingly or unknowingly.

Read up on Adam Finns stance on the vaccine.

Also, you can get the vaccine free in this UK trial www.uhs.nhs.uk/ClinicalResearchinSouthampton/Trials-and-facilities/Whatclinicalresearchis/FeaturedresearchExploringnewchickenpoxvaccine.aspx

[Eastie77]

I think there are other vaccines that are more important/necessary. DD is currently recovering from CP. I'm relieved she has had it now whilst young (almost 3) with few side affects. Lots of spots but she felt fine in herself.

I do not think I would vaccinate any of mine as I have always thought life long immunity from getting the illness is preferable to immunity of variable length from a vaccine.

[Iwillorderthefood]

CP is not as innocuous as it may seem. My friend's son had one in his eye and it became infectious and although all was well, it threatened his sight. dd2 had it when she was 2 and she had reactive arthritis from it. This left her unable to walk for nearly four weeks, which happened to coincide with DD1's first ever school summer holiday, and DH's only holiday for the year. She was in so much pain that she could not sit up at the table, or travel in any comfort in a buggy or car seat. It put her physical development back for a while too. The worst bit was that she did not have the language skills to explain how she felt and she could not have known what was going on so it must have been vy frightening.

[RebeccaMumsnet]

Hi there,

Following a report, we have moved this thread over to our Petitions topic now.

[2010sll]

Incidentally, my nephew was hospitalised last week for a few days as he suffers from exema and his chicken pox spots got infected. He left hospital yesterday after a stressful and worrying couple of days for his parents. Totally avoidable as its a vaccine preventable disease. My friends child was also hospitalised due to complications.