To ask for opinions on varicella vaccine vs natural immunity?

It's not true that immunity only lasts 10-20 years. If that were the case there would be a booster programme. It's actually that we don't know how long immunity lasts - but as the earliest vaccinations are 25+ years ago and there's no sign of loss of immunity, we can probably assume it's lifelong.

My son had the vaccination in 2020 when he was 1, and we were told to consider getting him a booster before he goes to uni just to make sure he's covered. But that is just a back-up, they didn't really think it was necessary. He's been through numerous outbreaks at nursery and school without any sign of pox.

Incidentally, immunity from infection isn't foolproof - you can be infected again. I have a friend with an autoimmune condition who's had it three times (badly).

My US colleagues were absolutely horrified when they found out UK children still get chicken pox because we don't (at the time I spoke to them about it) vaccinate. To them it's an old-fashioned illness that no-one nowadays gets.

Surely the fact that risk of shingles is lower is an excellent reason to get the vaccine? Shingles is horrific. I would (and will) 100% vaccinate. It’s safe and effective.

I can't remember where I read the 25 y figure but the govt website states that the effectiveness doesn't decline over time. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/17/what-is-the-mmrv-vaccine-and-is-my-child-eligible/

Have you read what the JCVI said in the explanation of why they’ve now recommended it?

Basically they can only say it has been shown to have X amount of years of immunity because it’s only been in use those years, but they’ve said that the previous belief that it would wane in 10-20 years leading to a risk of CP in adults and also could lead to an increased risk of shingles have both been shown not to be the case.

Theres no evidence of immunity waning, but they can’t say it’ll last for 40/50/60 years yet because it’s not been in use that long. They can say that the first groups to have it - which is decades ago now - have been shown to still have immunity and no increase in shingles risk (lowered in fact).

Even if it did wear off (which it shouldn't) they can just get a booster.

I remember getting chickenpox as a kid. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

My paediatrician said the reason for the vaccine was economic not for child welfare in his opinion. They had all other vaccines offered

This isn't correct. Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the chicken pox virus that has laid dormant after a previous chicken pox infection.

Shingles can also cause long-term neuropathic pain. I got it as a teenager and still have an area of my back that feels like someone's sticking 100s of pins in it if my husband so much as gently strokes it. It's exactly where I had the worst blisters when I got shingles. So, you might want to factor that risk in when making a decision about the vaccine.

Many countries have been vaccinating for decades and continue to do so, so I imagine the long term cost vs risk deems it worthwhile continuing to vaccinate. I recall reading a study that illustrated there was not a higher prevalence of chicken pox in adults in vaccinated countries vs unvaccinated, but I don't remember the details sorry.

My DD caught chicken pox when she was about 16 months, I had researched and wanted to get her jabbed privately but was waiting for a window of no colds or bugs (never ending in nursery!). Luckily there were no long term ill effects BUT she was so poorly. She was absolutely covered in them and so miserable. I felt so so guilty not to have organised a vaccine sooner and avoiding all that anguish for her. It also meant taking two weeks off work which had a financial impact.

My little boy caught chickenpox at nursery at 21 months old. It was awful.

Paid for DD to have the vaccine at Boots as soon as she was old enough. £150 for both doses. Chickenpox has done the rounds at her nursery about 5 times since, and most of the children in her room have had it. The parents I’ve spoken to thought it was pretty awful for their kids too.

No regrets.

I'm in Australia in a relatively high vaccine accepting area. I do not know a child who has had chicken pox.

Testing had shown that the vaccine does not decline in effectiveness over 25 years. They haven't tested it after that but the assumption is if it hasn't changed in 25 years it probably lasts indefinitely.

I had shingles recently and I have never felt so ill or been in so much pain, it was similar levels to being in labour! For that reason alone I would get the vaccine as natural immunity from getting cp means you are at much higher risk of shingles later in life

I opted not to vaccinate 20 years ago (living in a country where they routinely vaccinated) because I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to access boosters in the U.K. when we moved back. They both caught chicken pox within 6 weeks of landing back here!

The vaccine wasn't a thing when I was a kid. For years, I thought I'd acquired immunity because I never got it, even though many of my school friends did.

I had chicken pox when I was 36, I think I caught it from my neighbour, who was 49. We were both really ill, and was off work for around 3 weeks. I had repeated attacks of shingles for 10 years or so afterwards.

If I hadn't had it, I'd definitely have the vaccine.

I’m so sorry, what an awful thing to happen. On this basis alone I’d get it. Really hope your son gets the transplant he needs and is well.

chickenpox as an adult is nasty. Go for the vaccine.
I always thought I had 'natural immunity' as I'd top/tailed in a bed with my cousin who had CP badly,and I didn't get it (age 6). I got it when I was 18. Not recommended.

Just remembered that (I think) in NZ they get the CP before some other the others; I know someone who came back here and had to get catch up mmr etc for their toddler but he’d had the CP

I couldn't afford to stay home with a week each (at least!) for each of mine.

also, our family is excema prone and it's strongly recommended.

plus it can be really nasty. one neighbour's dc had the pocks in the lung and this resulted in a really poorly child.