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Original poster

Chicken pox vaccine (posting for traffic)

25 replies

JanewaysBun · 15/12/2019 21:10

Posted this in health but have posted here too for traffic ...
I searched mumsnet and discussions seem to say that the reason CP vaccine is not universal in the UK is because OAPS might get shingles from lack of exposure. But now the shingles vaccine is available surely that point is now irrelevant?

So seemingly the only drawback to not having it is because it might not last a lifetime? However measles vaccine has only been around 40 years that's also not known to last forever? I get that measles is obvs way worse but just wondering why this point seemingly only relates to CP vaccine.

I'm really going back and forth on getting the DC done so don't want them to get it then I wish I got the vaccine.

If any doctors about I would really love to know the answers as I couldn't Google them!

OP posts:
Radicalradiator · 15/12/2019 21:16

They don’t vaccinate due to cost obviously. Australia, US and most European countries vaccinate as standard so there’s no other reason

Fefifoefum · 15/12/2019 21:21

I’ve had my daughter vaccinated. Although rare there are some awful side effects to chicken pox. Not to mention a week of discomfort for her and possibly time work unpaid for us.
I saw no real downsides. I feel like the increase in shingles isn’t going to happen until we get full herd immunity.

fallfallfall · 15/12/2019 21:23

Purely $$$$

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General health
Original poster
JanewaysBun · 15/12/2019 21:24

Ok thanks guys, have been thinking for ages to get them done but didn't want there to be something I've missed that might make it sensible not to!

OP posts:
Chocolateandcarbs · 15/12/2019 21:25

I’ve had my second child vaccinated, after my first had a nasty reaction to chickenpox. My vaccinated child has suffered no ill effects at all (some
Children may get a spot or 2 - anecdotally, of the 10 or so children I know who have been vaccinated, 1 got a spot) and I’m pleased she’s avoided a potentially nasty illness. I think it’s only not given due to cost.

StealthMama · 15/12/2019 21:27

Ill be getting both myself and 6 month old done in the new year, as pp said it's standard in Europe and just a cost thing here. No point being I'll if we don't need to be and there are risks with the illness,

Fingersandtoes82 · 15/12/2019 21:29

I kept putting it off and then my DC1 got it. DC1 now is left with bad scarring on the face (I appreciate that my child is healthy and that's the important thing) and I wish I had vaccinated all the time. If I were you I would go for it.

littlealexhorne · 15/12/2019 21:38

I got myself vaccinated a few years ago, think it cost me £100 for the two jabs. You do have to go back 10 years later for a booster too I think. No regrets to getting myself vaccinated.

Original poster
JanewaysBun · 15/12/2019 21:45

Is it only a booster at 10 years? If the DC grow up to be like DH (who is shocking at looking after himself and would forget to get boosters for sure) id be worried they would forget to get boosters as adults

OP posts:
littlealexhorne · 15/12/2019 21:56

I'm pretty certain thats what they said to me, though now I've googled it I can't find anything saying as such! I still think it'd be worth having it done for them now even if you think they'd forget the boosters.

TowelStripes · 15/12/2019 21:58

Got my 1 year old done in the summer, she didn't even notice the jab and was completely unfazed. No mention of a booster in 10 years...

Hairybauble · 15/12/2019 22:02

I had both my children done (and DH!).

My theory was a week off work whilst paying a childminder would cost me a lot more than the jabs. Plus it can (rarely) be serious, even fatal.

One of my children spitefully got chickenpox anyway, about 6 months after the jabs. I would like to think it would have been more severe if she hadn't had the vaccine but it was still pretty unpleasant.

The other child (and DH) have stayed pox free!

NikkiDawn · 15/12/2019 22:13

NHS - “If a childhood chickenpox vaccination programme was introduced, people would not catch chickenpox as children because the infection would no longer spread in areas where most children had been vaccinated.

This would leave unvaccinated children susceptible to getting chickenpox as adults, when the illness is more likey to be serious, or during pregnancy, where there's a risk of the infection harming the baby.

A childhood chickenpox vaccination programme could also lead to a significant increase in cases of shingles in adults.

When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. This can then reactivate later and cause shingles.

If you had chickenpox as a child, being exposed to the illness again as an adult (for example, through contact with infected children) can boost your immunity to shingles.

If children are vaccinated against chickenpox, adults will lose this natural boosting, so their immunity will drop and more cases of shingles will happen.”

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/why-are-children-in-the-uk-not-vaccinated-against-chickenpox/

adventulous · 15/12/2019 22:20

I'm a GP and vaccinated my son for chicken pox. I looked at the evidence and felt it was a cost factor as to why we don't have it here. And I was happy with the effectiveness of the vaccine. I've seen some really ill kids and adults from chicken pox over the years and wanted to protect my son. Also the amount of time off work lost for me for chicken pox was more expensive than the vaccine and as I don't have any emergency childcare that also played a factor.

NikkiDawn · 15/12/2019 22:20

Worth noting that Chicken Pox is normally a mild illness, but all that can change if the individual is given Ibuprofen, which can cause serious infections.

“Research over the years has shown that using ibuprofen in chicken pox may lead to an increased risk of serious skin infection – a condition called necrotising fasciitis”

www.netdoctor.co.uk/parenting/news/amp26412/should-you-give-ibuprofen-chicken-pox/

Radicalradiator · 15/12/2019 22:21

No different to the arguments for Rubella or Measles. If everyone was vaccinated then it would be eradicated

NikkiDawn · 15/12/2019 22:23

CDC advice on the vaccine “Serious side effects after the chickenpox vaccine are extremely rare. The few that have been reported after vaccination include severe rash, infections of the lungs or liver, meningitis, seizures, pneumonia, or general severe infection with the virus strain from the vaccine.”

www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/varicella-vaccine.html

SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 15/12/2019 22:25

There is a good guardian artical about the chicken pox vaccine, I'll try and link it.

Had my child vaccinated about a year ago, there is no need for a booster after 10 years or anything, just 2 jabs 4 weeks apart. No vaccine is 100% effective but if your child does go on to have actual CP then it should be a lot milder. IIRC the cost was about £150ish in total.

If you talk to parents whose children have actually had chicken pox there is such a variety of responses. Some say how mild it was and others how awful (and obvs the rarer really serious cases) but for us it was totally worth it and very glad to have given the vaccine, same as im glad we do the MMR etc. I think its bad its not at least offered on the NHS to allow people to choose who can't afford to get it privately, especially as most other developed countries do it as standard

TheClausSeason · 15/12/2019 22:31

I'd have had mine vaccinated but she caught it before I could.

LilyPinkNoah · 15/12/2019 22:46

I vaccinated my two

In our circle is a paediatric consultant - who had no qualms in telling me to get mine done.

Another friend who is a GP said it was a major regret of theirs that they didn't get their children vaccinated - the children been left with significant scarring.

NikkiDawn · 15/12/2019 22:54

“The United Kingdom is waiting to see what happens in countries where vaccination is routine.”

...

“The extent of decline in vaccination induced immunity to chickenpox over future years is not, of course, known and neither is the proportion of those vaccinated in the USA from 1995 that will become susceptible to “geriatric chickenpox.””

...

“If there is less chickenpox in children then there will be no boosting of immunity by exposure to chickenpox for middle and older aged people and thus there will be more shingles, at least until all the elderly have been vaccinated as children but this assumes that immunity conferred by vaccination is lifelong. The morbidity of shingles in later life is greater that that associated with chickenpox in childhood. Twenty per cent of those over 50 with shingles, even if they receive treatment, will have pain six months later. Mathematical models predict that shingles in the unvaccinated would initially increase by 30%–50% if childhood vaccination rates were high, and would decrease thereafter. ”

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563790/

ReginaGeorgeous · 15/12/2019 22:58

I vaccinated my eldest, and will vaccinate DC2 once he's old enough. I don't see any reason other than cost that it's not available on the NHS.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/12/2019 22:59

^ NHS - “If a childhood chickenpox vaccination programme was introduced, people would not catch chickenpox as children because the infection would no longer spread in areas where most children had been vaccinated.

This would leave unvaccinated children susceptible to getting chickenpox as adults, when the illness is more likey to be serious, or during pregnancy, where there's a risk of the infection harming the baby.^

Uh...but not vaccinating children means that kids who didn't get chickenpox as kids are just as likely to get it as adults or in pregnancy, that argument makes no sense at all does it?Confused

DD didn't get it as a kid, so we had her done when she was in her teens, before gcse years - she hated needles but she'd have hated disruption to her schooling more.

Maybe that would be the cost effective solution, offer the vaccination to any kids who'd not already caught it by secondary school age?

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