Is it better for child to get chicken pox early?

[Mummyfinally2019]

Ds is 5 and hasn't had chicken pox yet. Our friends LO currently has it and has suggested meeting up so my ds can catch it and get it over with! Is this recommended? Obvs don't like ds being ill but I do like the thought of getting the pix over and done with, esp as we have no plans. Is this completely wrong? The control freak in me thinks it might be good to get it done now (if he even caught it) and while we have no plans or holidays 🤷🏻‍♀️🙈

Get the vaccine. I had the chickenpox in my 20s, that was DIRE... I assume any point in childhood is "better", because there would be time to forget 😂

The chickenpox vaccine is quite likely to be added to the standard childhood vaccination schedule by the NHS soon. Your son might be young enough to be picked up by a catch-up programme but if you can afford it I’d just vaccinate privately now tbh.

Not only the misery of the itching, illness itself and potential complications, the risk of scarring, including facial scarring, would be enough to get the vaccination for me. Majority of other countries include this already in their regular vaccination schedules.

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/

Infecting on purpose is not something that's recommended now, chicken pox party's are a thing of the past.

DS had it around his 1st birthday. Very spotty but more or less fine in himself. He had one day of being a bit hot and miserable.

DD was 6. Covered head to toe. Soles of feet, so it hurt to walk. Eyelids, which we had a race against time to find a particular out-of-stock-everywhere medication for, as the doctor was actually concerned she could be left with permanent vision damage. We spent several days taking turns to hold her whilst she burnt up and cried. It was horrendous. She's been left with several scars on her face.

If I could go back in time I'd vaccinate.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-in-childhood-immunisation-programme

Cheaper to vaccinate than to take 5 days off work to look after a kid with chicken pox!

I had chicken pox as an extra special gift for my 18th birthday. It was horrible. Same virus I think as shingles which is to be avoided. If you can vaccinate against it (didn't know this) get it done. You dont want your child to have an 18th birthday like mine.

I didn't get it until I was 30 and it was horrendous.

It's on average worse with age. I caught it at 20yo and was pretty bad.

However I wouldn't go out of your way to get him to catch it. When dd1 had it (very mildly) one of the other dc at preschool (3yo) was hospitalised and spent some time in an induced coma. They had to relearn walking/talking etc again afterwards.

We all caught it at the same time. Both adults and older child had mild cases, but preschool aged dc was extremely ill. I would get the vaccine.

DS2 was in HDU for 5 days with chicken pox - he was 9 months. Def vaccinate.

@fashionqueen0123 can I ask where you read that DC of OP's DC's age will be too old for a catch-up programme if the NHS introduces one? I haven't vaccinated yet as I read they'd probably be bringing it in and was assuming ours would get it eventually. Maybe I need to rethink.

I would also say vaccinate. I thought chicken pox was a very minor childhood illness and wanted my children to catch it and have done with it but one of mine was actually hospitalised and it was awful to see him suffer so much with it. I know that’s probably a pretty unusual situation but it can be a horrible experience for kids.

My 14yr old dd hasn't had it yet, does anyone know if she will be entitled to NHS vaccination or should I book privately?

Sorry to hijack your thread OP.

DS2 had it at a week old. Now 19 and never had it again.

I read that they’ll be starting with the youngest first. So I just can not imagine that a 5 year old now will be eligible by the time they’ve even started it it let alone caught up with toddlers and pre school age etc it seems to be incredibly slow to get going.
And at age 5 they are so likely to catch it I’d just go privately. I was about to take mine when she was 3.5 but then she caught it 😩 I was so annoyed with myself. I got my 10 year old done years ago.

It’s unlikely that a catch-up programme would cover teens. I’d pay privately if possible. It’s particularly important for girls to have immunity once they reach childbearing age as CP can do such damage in pregnancy.