Why are children in this country not vaccinated against chicken pox

[Lardlizard]

?

My husband was very ill with CP as a child, he had almost a term off school with it apparently! His grandmother ‘almost died’ from it.

There seems to be a family weakness on that side, so both my children have been vaccinated against CP, I was happy to pay for it.

I won’t be getting DS vaccinated privately but would have it if it was part of the standard schedule of vaccines as whilst I am not overly concerned about him getting chicken pox, I do think herd immunity is important if we are going to commit to it as a national program. DH has never had CP but has been told that even if he isn’t immune, the vaccine is unlikely to be effective in adults.

The USA added a booster as they realised it wasnt effective long term. But as it's a newish vaccine how will they know when that booster wears off as well? Adults are less likely to remember they need top ups.
I was told that it didnt matter as if everyone is vaccinated everyone is safe.... but this only works if you never leave the country

I'm not anti vaxx by a long shot but I'm very convinced by chicken pox vaccine.

The thing is, if everyone is vaccinated then adults/teens don't get it as commonly either. It is a short term worry. It's not as though chicken pox is lurking in the air waiting to pounce on anybody unprotected, you get it from contact with an infected person. Children are currently the most common group to get chicken pox, so if few children get it (because they are all vaccinated) they won't pass it on to adults or teenagers either.

I suppose there is a problem with the first generation of vaccinated children that there will be a time where some slightly older ones won't be vaccinated, but won't have caught it either. We are in Germany and there is a two phase programme happening here. DS1 is 10 and his peers were vaccinated (though he was not as we lived in the UK at the time) but children ~5 years older were not, and anyone 1 year older than him would have only had a single dose, whereas a second dose is now recommended. So any child who has never had chicken pox is invited to be vaccinated between the ages of 9-13 to cover that second vulnerable period. DS2 is 6 months old and will get the combined MMR plus chicken pox vaccine when he is old enough.

As a result of the change, chicken pox is rarer (though not eliminated) here and DS1 hasn't had it.

Not very convinced

Funk not really - if you travel to a country where it's common you could always get a travel vaccine. But the US, Canada, I think Aus/NZ, and most European countries vaccinate against it now, and these are the most common travel destinations.

I dunno. I never would have been for it before but actually it's so nice not to have to worry about chicken pox here. I also think chicken pox is quite nasty compared to other illnesses DC routinely get today. I can see it was mild compared to things like Polio or Diphtheria and perhaps similar to Measles and Mumps but those things are rare today too and I think our perspective has changed. Vaccines really are low risk compared with the alternative.

I was told it was purely cost vs benefit. I got my 2 dc vaccinated privately. We've got 2 friends whose kids were hospitalised through chicken pox.

Also young DC with chicken pox don't act unwell until after they are infectious but perhaps older people would feel unwell at an earlier stage and be more likely to stay at home? (I don't know if this is the case). Adults do tend to have much better hygiene in terms of preventing disease transmission than small children, too - we wash our hands, cover our mouths when we cough/sneeze, don't typically lick or dribble on people, share food/drinks other people have directly bitten, etc.

OhTheRoses.

How ignorant your comment is about gastric bands! You need to get your head down and research how much gastric surgery saves the NHS in treating comorbidities.

And also gastric bands are being phased out.

DD has had the vaccine (paid for by the NHS although I would have paid privately if it was not offered) because we live with someone who is immunocompromised and CP for them would be a lot more than ‘just’ chickenpox. Said person also had the vaccine, everyone else has had CP and I will vaccinate any other children I have too.

My son had it at 8 mo the and looked like a burns victim , the nurse had never seen a child so covered and we had to go to the hospital twice. If I had known about vaccinating private then I would have -I've paid privately for both of mine to have meningitis vaccine

I got both mine vaccinated after talking to DSis, who is an infectious diseases registrar, and weighing up the cost of the vaccine versus time off work. The immunity wearing off as adolescents argument is weak - they've been vaccinating against chicken pox in countries like America for years, and they are doing follow on studies to monitor when / if immunity wears off. If it turns out to be a problem, there will be plenty of notice DC need to get a booster vaccine.

I blame antivaxxers. There won’t be a 100% take up rate with a new vaccine, judging by the take up rate of other vaccines such as the nasal flu spray (I know a surprising number of parents I would consider sensible who have refused it based on mistaken beliefs). So most children would have the vaccine but for the small number (or not so small) that didn’t have CP vaccine they would run the risk of getting as adults which would be much more serious. There would be pockets of severe outbreaks. I can see why the NHS would be hesitatant.

My child was vaccinated in the UK at the age of 3 in 2012. Does anyone know if he needs a booster or is it just the one jab?

Also it’s utterly bonkers to deliberately infect your child with a potentially fatal disease! Chicken pox parties??? WTAF? Why would you deliberately spread a disease around when there is a vaccine readily available. You could kill or cause disability to your own child or other children or adults.

And for those spreading disinformation the studies show the vaccine is safe and effective. It’s not that new and given in most developed countries. Time for us to catch up.

We got our DD vaccinated for it. She was born in Germany and if we stayed until she was one she would of got it then.

DD gets very bad croup (A and E trip normally despite inhaler that we use as soon as we see the signs and the steroid tablet) which is normally set off by illness and cold. The NHS won't vaccinate and I don't want to have to make the decision of taking my DD to A and E if she has infectious CP or staying home when she needs help. Also I don't want the panic of every holiday worrying about her getting CP and not being able to go.

Also no evidence it wears off either. There is not an epidemic of chicken pox cases in the USin adults since they started vaccinating routinely in childhood. Quite the opposite- chicken pox cases have fallen dramatically and deaths from chicken pox have been almost wiped out entirely.

Most cases of chicken pox are in unvaccinated people in the US. But it is true that a very small number of people can get chicken pox despite being vaccinated. But it’s also the case that some people don’t develop immunity after getting chicken pox and can get it over and over again. So no reason not to vaccinate.

Pooty they have found two doses to be more effective so it is recommended. But the one you've done won't be ineffective without a second dose.

If your child is vaccinated are they at risk of getting very severe chicken pox as an adult? Is it better to just catch it and get it over with?

There is not an epidemic of chicken pox cases in the USin adults since they started vaccinating routinely in childhood
It hasnt been part of the routine vaccination schedule for long enough to know how it will work for adults and older people who are exposed. They've only even had it available for 25 years.

Not to the same poster, but more generally
You can't discuss legitimate concerns around a vaccine without people assuming you're a rabid antivaxxer who thinks their child is going to get autism.

My children have had all their vaccines but chickenpox because I'm unconvinced the risk outweighs the benefit.

Remember the unease around the men B immunisation when that was introduced

What unease? This passed me by entirely. I know lots of kids missed out because of the age restrictions. Why would you not want your child immunised against meningitis? It's many times more serious than chickenpox!

@funkaccino - there’s no good reason not to get vaccinated for chicken pox. It’s just the same anti vaccer nonsense. There’s no evidence of any problem with the vaccine or any good reason not to get it.

Its not antivaxxwr nonsense. The Who only suggests it if you can keep at least 80% vaccinated. The antivaxxers. The NHs clearly dont think it's worth doing. All the reasons against have been given.

Those of who travel and move countries and dont want to risk our children with an unproven vaccine have good reason.

As I understand it, it's to use unvaccinated young children who get it and shed the virus to boost the immunity of adults who had it in childhood. Basically using affected youngsters as a free booster vaccination for adults.