To hunt down these bastards who exposed my son to chicken pox

Why is it a ticking time bomb @WhiteLily1 ? Not everyone gets it. I’ve never had CP and neither Have my 2 DDs.

And what did you want her to do. Never leave the house? Or get him infected on purpose? She tried to get him vaccinated, he had a reaction.

Sucks because of the timing. However you must have known this was a ticking time bomb? Every year he ages and doesn’t get it, will likely be worse when he does?
What were you thinking, that he would just never get it?

Maybe Op did think he would get it at some point.

Hence why she had him vaccinated!!!!!

Weird. How could you possibly think that he wasn't going to get it at some point?

Do you always take everything so literally
of course OP isn’t going to hunt anymore down! Your comment is no help whatsoever Many people are repeating the same thing, so why do you feel the need to join in.

I agree that it's not the point of the thread and that the OP is right to be annoyed, but it's worth correcting incorrect assertions about the vaccine in case it's helpful to someone.

I'm sorry, but your paediatrician is wrong. I don't know when you asked her, but there's now plenty of research that contradicts that. I don't blame the average parent in the UK for not knowing enough about the CP vaccine, but it's really not ok for a paediatrician to give out inaccurate information.

OP, I hope your son has a mild case and a quick recovery. If it's any consolation, one of my DC had appendicitis the night before starting a new school (in a new country) and missed the first two weeks. They were also very upset at the time but did absolutely fine friendwise.

Why are people bleating on about the vaccine as if that's the point of the post? Whether you can't afford it or just don't get it, it's still out of the ordinary that this family didn't only knowingly take the kid on holiday but also knowingly let him play in close proximity to other children for days. The OP is reasonable to be annoyed by that regardless.

Most people who are vaccinated with 2 doses of varicella vaccine will be protected for life.

www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/varicella.html

Where I live (EU capital) I have never heard of anyone getting CP because its part of the vaccination schedule.

I personally find the idea that it 'isn't serious, best get it over with' a very outdated viewpoint. Why on earth should anyone suffer when there is a vaccine available. The UK really needs to catch up and stop foisting this disruptive menace of a disease on kids and their families.

I am sorry for your son OP, I have a dc entering year 6 and it is a very big deal for them. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Never knew it existed either. If the vaccine is an inactive form of Chickenpox virus, I presume it would also guard against possible Shingles later on. I’ve had both, and it was the Shingles which was painful. It goes along your nerves and sets them on fire.

Reminds me, I’d probably better get the Shingles vaccine. A truckload of dosh, you can still get Shingles, but most like much milder and for a shorter duration.

@Overpayment - if you read the OP's updates, her son did have the first dose of the vaccine but had such a bad reaction he had to spend a night in hospital, and the doctors said he could NOT have the second dose.

Apparently it’s a budget decision but it’s now been recommended to be added to the traditional rollout. Only 20-30 years after the rest of the western world.

Yes they were selfish not considering the needs of others. It sounds like the school will take care of him but that’s easier for us as adults to understand than an 11yr old.

I’ve also learned that CP is not on the vaccination schedule in the UK! My kids are 18 and 16 and were routinely vaccinated against CP at age 4 in Australia.

Same here, and even the same age! I remember asking my parents if I ever had chicken pox and they couldn't even remember so they told me probably yes. But I had no memory of it so when I started coming out in spots I knew exactly what it was. Knocked me out for a solid week. I still have some scars and pitting left but luckily nowhere prominent.

I think it's pretty comparable to covid and we all know how little of a shit people give about exposing others. Pre-vaccine I was one of those who stayed home and was genuinely careful about not exposing anyone. However these days, I assume that the majority of people have already had it at least once or twice, plus extra immunity from multiple vaccines. So I don't feel guilty going out in public with cold symptoms that may or may not be covid. I also assume that when I'm in a public space, someone there could well be infected with covid and I'm ok with that. I also assume that chicken pox could easily be anywhere in a childcare/play setting and if my kids catches it, it's still my responsibility in the end. If she cannot have the vaccine I'd rather it happens earlier rather than later.

They shouldn't have taken their child away.

I actually had a friend who did similar and couldn't believe it when she told me 🙈. But money is tight for her and this was their one holiday so I do understand not wanting to cancel.

Feeling really thankful I paid for the vaccine!

Nothing you can do now...he will be fine!

They should have followed the NHS advice on chicken pox, designed to minimise the spread of disease and protect vulnerable people, and stayed at home.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

Sad though that would be for their holiday, as people have repeatedly told the OP, this stuff happens.

Amazed he made it to 11 without catching it tbh, all of my DC caught it at nursery so they were around 3/4 when they had it and it really wasn’t a big deal at that age- just itchy spots and a mild temperature for a few days.

It’s better to catch it whilst young because it can be very grave as an adult. If you were genuinely concerned about it, you could have paid for the vaccine.

@Katemax82 it isn't, unless you pay privately for it. We looked at it for our youngest because the oldest had a terrible time with CP, but it was beyond out budget. It's not a cheap option so most parents are unlikely to take it up.

Everyone having a go at op not vaccinating...my daughter is the same age and has never been offered a chicken pox vaccine? I didn't know it's a thing tbh

It really isn't the end of the world......

You’re unreasonable to want to ‘hunt down the bastards’. At the end of the day they didn’t invent chicken pox. They clearly got exposed to it from somewhere else. Should they have ruined a perhaps well needed holiday or lost out financially for not going to that holiday to protect your son for his first week of school? No I don’t feel they should.

it’s unfortunate as these things are when you can’t plan them hence why people are saying the vaccine is the answer. I was planning on paying to vaccinate my kids if they got through nursery without it but it didn’t come to that for us. im super shocked so many people haven’t heard of the vaccine?

It's £150 for the recommended 2 doses. That's a LOT of money for a lot of people. I don't usually say "check your privilege" but seriously, have a little think. We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis and many many people are living hand to mouth and worrying about feeding their children or keeping a roof over their head.

thats rubbish for you son. But he will be fine, and you’ll all laugh about this one day.
I hope he’s not too poorly with the pox.

incidentally I had my kids vaccinated as an immediate family member was undergoing chemotherapy. Our gp recommended it (and gave the kids it on nhs) to lower the chances of them getting it. 12 years later and they haven’t had it. I was advised when they’re 20 to have their immunity to it tested and then get the vaccine again if needed.

I probs wouldn’t have done the vaccine if it wasn’t for the family members cancer though.

nobody should feel bad for not giving their child a vaccine that costs a lot of money if they can’t afford it.

Ah I'm so sorry you're both going through this. That's so hard, I would be so upset but he will be ok. He'll be extra special when he starts high school and maybe more likely to make friends. Good luck to him when he returns, he will be fine

Most people would assume older kids weren’t vulnerable to it. To be honest they did him a favour as you don’t want to get it as an adult it’s horrid

Did you find out why he had an allergic reaction to the vaccine? This is extremely uncommon and usually only if a child has severe egg allergy. Funny you didn’t think to mention that!!