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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider the chicken pox vaccine?

111 replies

ooooooeak · 21/10/2010 22:04

I kind of feel the pox is hanging over us! DS1 was vaccinated but DS2 is too young still.

What happens if you catch it just before going on hols?? Can you fly? I assume not. What would happen if your child came out in pox when your away?? Would holiday insurace cover your extra stay??

Its one of the most horrible childhood illnesses.

What are the chances of catching it under a year old?

One private GP I spoke to today was happy to vaccinate at 10months but this makes me feel a little uneasy.

Part of me thinks its a very managable if not annyoying childhood illness the other part of me thinks its a pain, can cause terrible illness even death and why not just be vaccinated.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Nefret · 22/10/2010 12:02

Both my girls have been vaccinated. The older one was done while we were living in Turkey as it is standard over there and so we paid to have our youngest to be vaccinated here.

I wouldn't get it done until she is a year though as that is the recommended age and she isn't likely to catch it if your older child is already vaccinated.

I read on another forum of a child who caught chicken pox and died and it really made me wonder why people don't get their children vaccinated.

Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 14:12

Nefret I read the thread too. So so sad.

I really don't wany our baby to get it and its months away until he is a year.....:(

GiddyPickle

"Nobody really knows yet"......they do thats why in 2009 they recommended a booster.

OP posts:
Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 16:00

My doctor said it was more that people whouldn't want it combined with MMR.

OP posts:
earwicga · 22/10/2010 18:17

Are there any other vaccines MNers recommended for children that aren't already offered routinely in the UK?

ragged · 22/10/2010 18:56

I don't think MNers are particularly recommending the CP jab, tbh!
CP jab not offered because it costs MONEY. It's probably not cost effective, and wouldn't be offered in current economic situation even if economists could show it was cost-effective.

Also, if they offered CP jab they'd have to start offering Shingles jab, yet more cost.

emy72 · 22/10/2010 19:09

I haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to say that after my DD1 wass very very poorly with chicken pox and also ended up with a scar on her face, I decided to vaccinate my sons.

It needs to be done 1 month after the MMR.

We have had it done in Italy as it wasn't available here - not sure what the situation is now. I will be looking to get DD2 vaccinated too.

I looked into it a lot and if you google USA and chicken pox vaccination you'll find loads of research, all pointing to how safe it is.

Chicken pox can be nasty, my DD1 was 16 months and totally healthy when she became very poorly with it. We counted over 100 spots on her head only at the time....it makes me cry even now when I think of it.

LadyInPink · 22/10/2010 19:15

I haven't read the whole thread either but must add that 2 of my friends had their DC vaccinated as very LO's and they both contracted it last year when it went round at our school so it is not 100% - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! They did get it mildly though but the main reason they were vaccintaed was to avoid pox scars which cannot be avoided even if you only get a few spots as all kids scratch in their sleep!

Chicken pox is not a deadly disease but if they are going to get it let them get it now not when your kids are pregnant (if girls) when they are older as that is dangerous.

Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 19:20

LadyInPink be careful saying that. There are some mumsnet users whos children have died of chicken pox compliactions :(

OP posts:
LadyInPink · 22/10/2010 19:33

Sad oh that is so sad - like i said i haven't read the whole thread. How dreadful Sad

If you have a child at high risk (low immunity etc) then it is def worth it i agree.

cornflowers · 22/10/2010 19:45

I contracted CP from ds1 during my last pregnacy (late first-early second trimester). For some reason I had always assumed I'd had cp as a child - it turned out I clearly hadn't! Was given an immunoglobulin shot very promptly & all was well in the end, but I had to have numerous scans (almost fortnightly) and it made for a very stressful pregnancy. In the vast majority of cases, CP in childhood is very mild, but having learnt a good deal about the disease as a result of my own experience, I would encourage anyone to immunise themselves & their children against it.

chitchat09 · 22/10/2010 20:05

The nurse who arranged my immunisation against CP said that I had just as much risk of getting shingles as anyone else.

Shingles is less likely to occur if you have had 'boosters'. So it may well be that if you are immunised as an adult your system has the ability to resist shingles for a number of years, so you're not as likely to get it until much later.

As far as I am aware, the US has been immunising for awhile, and it is not a theory that the rate of Shingles will increase, it is now a fact - it HAS increased.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 22/10/2010 20:21

Like giddy I would also be concerned about the vaccine 'wearing off' and hence pushing CP into the adult population where more deaths occur. There is evidence for example that despite boosters this is what is happening with mumps.

I had CP as a pg adult. It was grim to be frank and I think a CP for teens who haven't had it would be worth considering.

thinkingaboutschools · 22/10/2010 20:27

My friends little boy had it really badly (eyelids - the lot and is scarred as a result). I did vaccinate following this and then my dc was called back for a second dose some months later (hopefully this will protect against shingles.) I am in absolutely no doubt that this was the right thing - this can be a horrible illness.

WannabeNigella · 22/10/2010 20:40

YANBU I had DS vaccinated against it.

If you can prevent it then why wouldn't you? That was my thinking.

Why put them through the pain, uncomfortableness and possible scars if it can be avoided?

I was also told that in the U.S and Australia it is compulsory for children to be vaccinated against it before they start school,not sure if that is true or not, but if so it's only a matter of time before that rule will be here too.

Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 20:54

Sorry to ask again but would you vaccinate early, 10 months instead for a year as there is alot of CP about at the moment??? The GP I saw was willing too.

OP posts:
bubbleymummy · 22/10/2010 21:03

I can't believe how many of you would vaccinate against a mild childhood disease. My children will not be getting it. I would rather they had it now than risk them catching it as adults when it is more dangerous. I would be particularly concerned about this if I had a daughter who could potentially catch it during pregnancy. It would be so much better for her to have naturally acquired immunity to protect her and my future unborn grandchildren! We have immune systems for a reason, let our bodies do their job and stop trying to interfere!

Sassybeast · 22/10/2010 21:11

Ladyinpink - my DD 'wasn't' in a high risk group when she contacted CP - she has no underlying health issues and is not immunocompromised. She still ended up in intensive care.

WannabeNigella · 22/10/2010 21:12

Bubbley, they won't catch it as adults. My DS is due his booster in the next 6 months that will protect him for life. (Well, in as much as any immunisation protects you against anything).

Daydreaming · 22/10/2010 21:17

Bubblemummy - it's not really a mild disease. I had it as a child and it was very, very bad. I was completely covered with spots - I can still remember it - and have two small scars on my face.

My DD has it done privately. I know there is a very small risk that she may still get CP, but if she does, it will be very mild.

It is standard in Australia. I suspect it's not standard in the UK because then the NHS would have to pay for it.

Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 21:20

bubbleymummy if they have the jab and boosters they won't get it as adults and if they did it would be so mild. It is possible to get in again anyway after 'natural' CP I have read.

OP posts:
bruffin · 22/10/2010 21:36

Depends on your experience of it. I know an adult that died from it, He was a parent at my children's nursery. I know several adults who have suffered very badly from it. The day before my DS's spots came out we bumped into a friend who was 5 and was immune suppressed from leukhemia and she had to be rushed to GOS for the 4th time to get the special vaccine (can't remember the name of it). A 6 yr old child in son's class had a stroke resulting from CP and was left paralyzed down one side of his body, he had to learn to walk and talk again. This is my experience of chicken pox in my circle of friends and aquantances, none friend of a friend stories.

The human immune system is not exactly the most reliable system by itself. Before we had medicines and vaccines babies were lucky to survive their first year, let alone childhood.

bubbleymummy · 22/10/2010 22:39

Lol bruffin. Yeah, our immune systems suck. The human race was dying out before big pharma came along!

Original poster
ooooooeak · 22/10/2010 22:42

It was wasn't it bubbleymummy?

OP posts:
dorisbumble · 22/10/2010 22:55

I had my dd jabbed at 1 year old in a London clinic. My ds was covered in cp which left deep scars which are still visible 8 years on. IMO It's a really nasty illness.....

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