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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:

BlingLoving · 10/09/2018 16:50

I'm pleased to see so many people want to have it or have done so. I'm planning to vaccinate DD this year. I was going to do DS before he started school.... but he got just before I could. His was mild, but I wouldn't want to put my child through what my older brother went through when he got his. Also, because they have to be excluded from school for 10 days or so, I don't want DD to miss 10 days of school for a preventable illness at some point. I just need to get myself organised. She's due her second MMR so I might discuss with the nurse while they're doing that one.

Frankly, I jump at offered vaccines generally. Both DC have also had TB, DS privately and DD on the NHS and I'm always pleased as we travel to a TB area regularly.

Skyejuly · 10/09/2018 16:51

No. It wears off

malvinandhobbes · 10/09/2018 16:52

I did it this summer with my 2-year-old and it was really easy (except for having to drive a long way).

Prior to the vaccine, every time I heard of a child having it I was getting a mild panic. My oldest son had a very bad case 12 years ago - he still has scars. It is such a relief to have her vaccinated.

I figure if it turns out people who had the vaccine need a booster, we'll know that long before she's an adult.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

gastropod · 10/09/2018 17:08

"But tbh it's only dangerous In certain circumstances."

This is true but those "circumstances" can happen to any kid, not just the immunosuppressed as some would have you believe.

My strong, healthy daughter nearly died from toxic shock caused by chickenpox complications (secondary staph infection). I wish she'd been vaccinated. The consultant epidemiologists at the hospital agreed.

Fatted · 10/09/2018 17:15

My boys both had chicken pox this year so it's not something we need to think about now. I wasn't too concerned about it enough to consider the vaccine beforehand. Our eldest was really bad with it and I think perhaps if I'd realised how ill he would be, I would have vaccinated the boys.

My eldest has asthma and seems to be one of those kids who gets everything worse than everyone else.

Stupomax · 10/09/2018 17:32

But tbh it's only dangerous In certain circumstances

What circumstances are those?

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/09/2018 18:03

I'm another one who had it at 19. It was truly horrific and my parent's said the chemist had no calamine so I had to just lie their itching. There was no part of my body not covered in huge red blisters.

It was in my mouth and on my throat and I couldn't swallow without using an anaesthetic gargle/mouthwash. It made you vomit if you ingested even a tiny bit.

22 years later I can still see the craters on my face and body where some of them scarred.

Skyejuly · 10/09/2018 18:28

My worry was that it would wear off and no boostet available for whatever reason.

MrsMummyBx · 10/09/2018 18:40

I vaccinated my little boy after coming across an irresponsible parent who took their kid to soft play with chicken pox - I believe vaccine can be effective up to 3 days after encountering chicken pox. Best thing I did. All of his childminders kids (4) had chicken pox and he had exposure and only had a very very very mild form. Definitely worth it if you can spare the cash.

mugginsalert · 10/09/2018 19:05

I wish I'd known about it before my kids caught chickenpox. Both were very ill and distressed and one ended up in hospital. Her little body has many scars, fortunately not too many on the face. Hopefully they'll be less noticeable as she grows but I wish I'd spared her that.

MakeItStopNeville · 10/09/2018 19:06

I had two of my children vaccinated as we had moved to the US and it was a requirement of them going to school. Very happy they didn't get the disease itself as DC1 was pretty sick with it.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 10/09/2018 19:29

I planned to get my children vaccinated if they hadn't had it by the time they were due to go to secondary school. They've both had it now so we don't need to.

herecomesthsun · 10/09/2018 20:21

Just do it (I won't go into our experience). And ignore any condescending GPs, it is so worth it, and is increasingly available from alternative sources.

ctdg · 10/09/2018 20:29

I would definitely vaccinate but am really confused because my son, when he was three, got a really bad case of herpes in his mouth and lips (but not anywhere else); we spent a week in an isolation ward on a drip (he couldn't swallow anything), were given an anti-viral, etc. Does it count as a chicken pox or not? I asked two GPs and both were unsure in their replies (one said 'probably yes', the other said 'no' but could not explain why not (it's the same virus, no?). Would be grateful for opinions (my son is ten now)

dementedpixie · 10/09/2018 20:50

Is chicken pox not herpes zoster whereas herpes simplex causes cold sores/genital herpes? They are both from the herpes family but are not the same virus

nonplussedinouterspace · 10/09/2018 20:56

I really, really wish we had.

ctdg · 10/09/2018 21:05

dementedpixie
Thanks. I think you are right, they are different viruses... Shame, I thought we've had it and can stop worrying about chicken pox :-(

Does anyone know if there is a choice of chicken pox vaccines (e.g., some are more effective than others) in the UK or are they all identical (i.e. made by the same company)? Thanks in advance

TwoDrifters · 10/09/2018 21:55

Paradyning Thank you! I’ll check it out.

WinterRainbow · 10/09/2018 22:09

When i had DC2 I mentioned infront of the dr that chicken pox was going round DC1 nursery. Dr was very concerned. Apparently CP is very dangerous for newborns (up to 4 weeks old I think). I was very surprised at how concerned he was. May be worth thinking about vaccinating for anyone planning more DC in the future.

jo10000 · 10/09/2018 22:20

I looked into this for my DS10 this year but the health professional said that if he had the vaccine it would be live from the first jab to 4 weeks after the second, so 10 weeks. This made me think that would be v bad for any auto immune people he came into contact with. Also my mum is terrified of catching shingles so wouldn't want to see us in that time and just seemed too long. Seeing this thread I'm reconsidering. For those who've had it done what were you told about this?

macdhui · 10/09/2018 22:23

Paid for my two to have them vaccinated privately. Chickenpox is hideous and I am still scarrred from being so ill when I was six

dementedpixie · 10/09/2018 22:25

Chickenpox doesn't pass shingles on

Stupomax · 10/09/2018 22:33

I wasn't told to avoid anyone in any way, or that I would be putting anyone at risk.

Here's the vaccine information sheet we're given in the US after the varicella vax.
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/varicella.pdf

Your mum won't catch shingles from your kids having the chickenpox vaccine, but if she's that worried generally about it why doesn't she get the shingles vaccine?

jo10000 · 10/09/2018 22:53

Stupomax, mum has enough health issues and is 84, the shingles vaccine seems down her list, she had skin cancer this year. Thanks re the info.

Stupomax · 10/09/2018 23:06

Stupomax, mum has enough health issues and is 84, the shingles vaccine seems down her list, she had skin cancer this year. Thanks re the info.

Ah I'm sorry to hear it - I hope she's recovering. I can absolutely see why she doesn't want any nasty viruses.

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