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Original poster

Would you vaccinate against chickenpox?

216 replies

DieAntword · 09/09/2018 21:55

The aeroplane thread made me think about this and I was reading about it. So they don’t think that people immune via vaccination will get shingles (or significantly more rarely than full chicken pox cases). Is this a no brainer then? Kids won’t get sick and they won’t get shingles later either? The only reason it’s not on the nhs is to stop adults who had full chickenpox as children getting shingles due to exposure? Is it ethical to use kids as a viral vector that way 🤔?

Apart from it costing money is there any reason not to do it?

OP posts:
DryHeave · 10/09/2018 04:10

I was considering it, but think I will now.

I found it hard to understand the link with shingles, as my eye just kept being drawn to it saying shingles increased with CP vaccine. Shingles seems to run in my family (apparently a predisposition is a thing?): grandad had it, mum had double shingles (two zones affected), sister had it, I had it. I don’t want to increase my child’s risk of shingles by having the CP vaccine, but that’s not how it works - it’s how having the CP vaccine would impact others?

SD1978 · 10/09/2018 04:11

No. It's a live vaccine- has a higher complication risk.

SilentHeadphones · 10/09/2018 04:38

Mine are both vaccinated. Eldest has ASD and the doctor recommended it for both. As it was on medical recommendation, we didn't have to pay. One did catch it, but had 7 spots, none of which itched and no fever or any other symptoms. I still remember getting it and have had shingles, so would have vaccinated them anyway.

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ShintyFartMuscle · 10/09/2018 04:41

In Australia so it’s on our regular schedule. We had CP go through the school last winter, the kids had pretty much all been vaccinated. It was really mild for all the children and didn’t affect as many children as it could have if they hadn’t been vaccinated, I would say defiantly worth it.

CommanderDaisy · 10/09/2018 04:47

Definitely. '
It has become part of the standard vaccination program in Australia about 13 years ago. My oldest was the last year they didn't vaccinate for it - he caught it and had a fairly mild case.
I then also caught it from him and was bed bound for a two week period with high fevers , hallucinations, masses of pox including on my eyelids and in my vage etc. It sucked immensely and took me ages to get over it.
Vaccinated younger son sailed along as normal.

Do it.

Grasslands · 10/09/2018 05:00

not worth the scaring. i made sure my daughter had both of hers vaccinated.

Mamaryllis · 10/09/2018 05:05

Also in Canada. Two out of three vaccinated. They actually got it anyway, but a much less serious version (we actually didn’t realize dc1 had it until 2 and 3 came down with it.) Dc3 hadn’t been vaccinated (timings not deliberate choice) and was considerably worse off.

Penfold007 · 10/09/2018 05:06

@dementedpixie is was 21 when I got shingles!
Yes I would vaccinate

sawbucks · 10/09/2018 05:15

Yep. We live overseas now but I paid privately for dd1.

Uncreative · 10/09/2018 05:29

I had chicken pox as an adult. My kids will be vaccinated!

Paradyning · 10/09/2018 06:30

1. Children die from it 2. They haven’t got time to take 2 weeks off work for each child 3. You’re saving your child from pain and suffering 4. They weren’t aware of any particular risks of it wearing off anymore than any other vaccination, there just weren’t the studies to prove otherwise

Completely agree with this. If you can afford it then do it.
It does make me cross though that the cost will make it prohibitive for those that cannot afford them. So their children will have to suffer.

Roomba · 10/09/2018 06:42

Yes, I'd vaccinate. Never thought about it much tbh until a child I know ended up with terrible, lifelong complications from it. DS1 had already had it as a baby so I booked DS2 in to be vaccinated. Then he came down with it a few days before the appointment! Thankfully, he only had a mild case.

BillThePony · 10/09/2018 06:48

I was thinking about it but during this period dd got the pox, fortunately she was fine.

Tbh I was more considering it due to having to take so much time off of work if she did get it but it turned out fine. If I had anymore children I definitely would.

Original poster
DieAntword · 10/09/2018 07:32

but that’s not how it works - it’s how having the CP vaccine would impact others?

Yeah the increased risk of shingles is in middle aged people who’ve had chickenpox. Exposure to children who carry the virus keeps their immune system familiar with the virus so it doesn’t come out of dormancy.

I think I’ll do it but when my youngest is 1 so I can get it done for both of them at the same time.

OP posts:
TwoDrifters · 10/09/2018 08:02

If you’re going to do it, at what age should it be done? My DS is 2 1/2 but I’m currently 6 months pregnant, is there any danger to me or the baby if I vaccinate him either now or when there’s a newborn around?

stargirl1701 · 10/09/2018 08:07

We planned to vaccinate for CP if the DC had not caught it before they started secondary school. They both caught it this year.

Racecardriver · 10/09/2018 08:11

We've vaccinated. Cheaper to vaccinate than to miss out on work. Children don't miss out on school. Nobody has to suffer the unpleasantness. Why wouldn't you?

Racecardriver · 10/09/2018 08:16

@SD1987 do you also avoid the live vaccines in the regular immunisation schedule like MMR? Obviously the small pox vaccine was also live but due to the effectiveness of international implementation schemes us no longer required.

bruffin · 10/09/2018 08:21

Yeah the increased risk of shingles is in middle aged people who’ve had chickenpox. Exposure to children who carry the virus keeps their immune system familiar with the virus so it doesn’t come out of dormancy.

I think that was a theory that never really happened. Shingles is hardly rare in this country where we have wild chicken pox. I think there is also some research that the cases of shingles rise a few months after a chicken pox outbreak.

I had shingles at 25 and knew 5 people who had it at the same time . Stress and injury are a big factor in shingles as well.

FinnJuhl · 10/09/2018 08:30

When I got my son vaccinated, the GP assumed I was a medical professional amd seemed surprised that I was not. He said the vast majority of his customers were doctors, which seemes telling.

topsyanddim · 10/09/2018 08:40

Most other countries vaccinate for it as standard. The NHS gives the shingles thing as a reason but this is unlikely to be true as it’s not been shown to cause issues in all the other countries. Therefore it’s just a cost issue

It’s the only childhood illness I remember it was so horrible so of course I vaccinated so my daughter didn’t go through the same

Paradyning · 10/09/2018 08:43

stargirl I think you may now have to wait until your newborn is at least a few weeks old. Call the pharmacist to ask. My dd wasn't allowed it when I was pg.

JeffJarrett · 10/09/2018 08:48

I had the two dose vaccine through occupational heath at work (NHS) and still got chicken pox when DS got it so for me it wasn't worth it, just glad I didn't pay.

OutPinked · 10/09/2018 09:13

It’s questionable as to whether the vaccination provides life long immunity, studies are ongoing. Whereas actually contracting it definitely does offer that. I didn’t bother, they all had it last year and were fine.

Scotinoz · 10/09/2018 09:49

Yes. Our eldest was vaccinated as part of the standard schedule in Australia, and we paid for our youngest to be done in the UK.

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