Cows milk allergy and chickenpox vaccine

[Redapple21]

Hi, I am just wondering if anyone has given their child the chicken pox vaccine when they have an allergy to cows milk?
DS is 16 months old. Reacted to cows milk at 6 months old - hives on his face and neck. We haven't given him cows milk since. Booked him in for the chicken pox vaccine and the pharmacist said to seek advice from GP first as the vaccine contains lactose and DS has milk allergy. I did an online consultation with the GP who said they couldn't advise as it wasn't a routine vaccine?
This has prompted me to start the milk ladder and he has tolerated milk biscuits on step one this week with no reaction.
I know people can't give medical advice but has anyone had a similar experience? Thank you.

Totally missing the point here (sorry, I've got no idea Re the vaccine), but do you have an epi pen at home?

My DS also has an IgE allergy to dairy and we've had to start the ladder in hospital being closely monitored with our epi pen on hand.

I've heard of some parents who haven't been issued an epi pen because they're child hasn't yet experienced anaphylaxis, which freaks me out on their behalf!

My son also has an egg allergy so for the MMR vaccine we stayed at the clinic for an hour, to make sure he tolerated it. This may be an option for the chickenpox one?

If a GP can't advise, I'd contact an allergist (or ask your gp to do so on your behalf), as they should know.

There are two chicken pox vaccines in the UK and only one contains lactose as far as I know. Ask for the other one.

Lactose one https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1676.pdf

Non-lactose one https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5582.pdf

Both are still available according to the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/chickenpox-vaccine/

@cathcath2 thank you I didn't know this so we are now booked in to give him the nine lactose one xx

@Alloveragain3 no we don't have an epi pen as his reactions have been hives and vomiting, the doctors have never mentioned an epi pen and haven't given much guidance at all other then telling us he should grow out of it xx

@Redapple21 In your shoes, especially as you're testing new foods at home, I'd 100% request one.

Any IgE reaction can progress to anaphylaxis. Hopefully it never happens for your little one but it's so important to have the epi pen just in case.

However, I've heard from a few parents that they're not automatically offered on the NHS, which I find outrageous!

@Alloveragain3 thank you. What reactions did your child have, if you don't mind me asking? I'm just wondering why some parents are given one and others aren't. X

My little guy had hives but we didn't want to wait for the NHS allergist appointment due to the wait so it was actually a private allergist who gave us the epi pen prescription

Lactose in medicine is medical grade and isn't a problem for children with cows milk protein allergies as it is the sugars. Medical grade lactose does not have the risk of contamination with the proteins that can get with food grade lactose

If there is a lactose free version I would go with that for extra reassurance but lactose in medicine isn't a problem for cmpa

We just didn't give our kids the vaccine at all, problem solved.

@Superscientist thank you for the info, really appreciate it. He's booked in for the non-lactose one but yes another GP we spoke to said the risk of any reaction from the lactose one would be very low.

@bakewellbride yes obviously that's an option but we would prefer him to have the vaccine if possible. Personal choice.

In case anyone comes across this post in the future, just updating. DS had the chicken pox vaccine 2 doses and was fine. He actually had the one containing lactose as they couldn't get the other one. Doctor said as his milk allergy was mild he would be ok. And he was.