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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider vaccinating against chicken pox?

197 replies

Chipshopninja · 03/08/2015 16:54

It used to be the done thing to have chicken pox parties, so your child caught it as young as possible

Now though it seems there's more and more information on how dangerous it can be.
Apparently 10 children in the UK die from CP every year (read that somewhere earlier but don't have a link sorry)

My 2 nieces have had it recently and I'm considering getting ds (3) vaccinated

There's a local clinic that does it for 65 pounds

Aibu?

OP posts:
DirtyMugPolice · 03/08/2015 17:54

I've been thinking about this too as DS aged 4.5 hasn't had it yet to our knowledge. I say to our knowledge as he's had exposure to it on more than one occasion and has had a few dubious looking spots but nothing I could definitively say was CP. Have heard that sometimes it can present so mildly you haven't known it's been CP - has anyone else heard that?

Anyway I'm having #2 in December so think I need to seriously consider it before he goes to school!

Oriunda · 03/08/2015 17:56

Being vaccinated doesn't provide 100% protection though. Both my husband (Italian) and a friend's husband (American) both got cp as adults despite being vaccinated.

MumOfTheMoment · 03/08/2015 18:13

My 2 dc had chickenpox and I swore then that if we ever had any further dc then I would get them vaccinated. Dd was so poorly I couldnt imagine not doing something to prevent it.

Also one of my friends dc has awful deep pox scars all over his face. He is literally scarred for life.

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 03/08/2015 18:18

My DS will have his 2nd chicken pox vaccine tomorrow (it's a course of 2 injections).
I believe if the reason the vaccine isn't available as standard is that after the MMR fiasco the "authorities" are scared of the backlash about another jab for something that is widely regarded as a minor illness?

AndNowItsSeven · 03/08/2015 18:19

Yanbu however it will be £130 as you need two injections.

HeyDuggee · 03/08/2015 18:26

Nope that's not why NHS doesn't provide it. They simply have a finite amount of funds and can't provide everything. Chicken pox isn't as dangerous as other diseases they do vaccinate for, and NHS will offer free vaccinations in circumstances where chicken pox could become dangerous (parent about to undergo chemo and child hasn't had chicken pox yet, for example).

ReginaFelangi · 03/08/2015 18:27

The NHS doesn't offer it because they say it will put non-immune adults and the elderly at greater risk.

OneMillionScovilles · 03/08/2015 18:40

NHS rationale here: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/chickenpox-vaccine-questions-answers.aspx#routineschedule

"If a childhood chickenpox vaccination programme was introduced people would not catch chickenpox as children (as the infection would no longer circulate in areas where the majority of children had been vaccinated). This would leave unvaccinated children (there will always be a few who are unable or choose not to have the vaccine) susceptible to contracting chickenpox as adults when they are more likely to develop a more severe infection or a secondary complication, or in pregnancy when there is a risk of the infection harming the baby."

So this seems to be twofold (and apply to many other things that we do vaccinate for).

  • On one hand, for the herd immunity (children who aren't vaccinated, but would tolerate vaccination well, will potentially suffer in later life because their parents make questionable choices). Can a doctor please tell me whether the vaccination can still be given in adulthood without high risk? If it can be, I'm fairly ok with that from a public health standpoint (my friend's currently getting a lot of his childhood vaccines at 31 because his mum believed in homeopathy(!) and he wants to protect his own health and others'.)
  • Secondly, and again I haven't known immunosuppressed kids or adults, but I thought that was part of the argument for herd immunity? If they couldn't be given the vaccine, surely catching a full blown case of CP is magnitudes worse?

It just feels like BS to justify non-vaccination on the NHS.

There's also a shingles angle but I'm getting RSI! OP, get your DC vaccinated if you want to and can afford it - it might be minor but even if you're that lucky, why put them through pain, discomfort and potential scarring?

OneMillionScovilles · 03/08/2015 18:43

PS not to say that the NHS has unlimited funds and should pay for everything(!) - but I'd be more comfortable if they said 'not a priority, but nice to have' rather than saying implying loudly that any parents who choose to are exacerbating a public health crisis.

FTR I'm not yet a parent so haven't have no history of private vaccination I feel I have to defend. Who knows, someone here may change my mind...

hazeyjane · 03/08/2015 18:48

www.theguardian.com/science/occams-corner/2014/may/15/real-reason-british-public-chickenpox-vaccine-shingles this article is interesting about the reason the vaccine isn't on the NHS

Regina - that article is from a very biased anti vaccine (all vaccines) website, and isn't entirely accurate.

"The chickenpox vaccine is made from live, attenuated (weakened) varicella virus. Unlike the type of immunity acquired from experiencing the disease, the vaccine provides only TEMPORARY immunity, and that immunity is not the same kind of superior, longer lasting immunity you get when you recover naturally from chickenpox."

From the CDC

In a clinical trial, 2 doses of vaccine were—
98% effective at preventing any form of varicella
100% effective against severe varicella

It is unknown how long the vaccine remains effective for an individual, as they have only been used on a national level for 20 years, but

Several studies have shown that people vaccinated against varicella had antibodies for at least 10 to 20 years after vaccination. But, these studies were done before the vaccine was widely used and when infection with wild-type varicella was still very common.

We were advised to have ds's immunity tested when he reached adulthood - however hopefully with his double blast, he should be ok!

JassyRadlett · 03/08/2015 18:59

I really regret not having DS1 vaccinated. He was very unwell and 18 months on still has deep scars on his torso.

DS2 will be vaccinated.

OneMillionScovilles · 03/08/2015 19:01

Excellent link jane - my point exactly but expressed so much more succinctly and persuasively! Smile

clicketyclick66 · 03/08/2015 19:04

Re: CP parties - my mum would be relieved when my db2 and I got measles, mumps, rubella and CP at the same time. Then db2 and db4 would get the illnesses and mum would have them 'over and done with' in the space of a month!

LokisLover · 03/08/2015 19:10

I have an allergic ds and was offered the vaccine by his consultant as he's considered high risk but typically he got cp before his appointment.

He was very, very unwell, in a lot of pain and it took him a month to get over it. Two years on he's still covered in scars. My other dc had it and you would hardly have known.

ArabellaRockerfella · 03/08/2015 19:14

Hmm, you've got me thinking. My youngest dd is nearly 10yrs old and hasn't had chicken pox. I should get her vaccinated shouldn't I?

ImNotCrazy · 03/08/2015 19:15

Is there a way of finding out if you have had chickenpox? Neither of my parents can remember if I caught it Hmm and now DS is 4 and hasn't had it yet either and I'm worried about being ill if I catch it off him at some point.

Redtowel · 03/08/2015 19:16

YANBU. Chicken pox is horrible. I had an awful case as a child and still have the scars.

I would hate for DD to go though that, so she is vaccinated. Our paediatrician said that If she does still catch it, it is only 25% of the strength of regular CP.

lemonpoppyseed · 03/08/2015 19:19

I live in a Canadian province where it is a recommended, free vaccine. I've worked in a school here for twelve years; we've never had a single case.

GetTheFudgeOutOfRodge · 03/08/2015 19:20

I didn't even know you could get a vaccine for it Blush

I've never had it so I'm very tempted to get DD vaccinated. Can adults get it too?

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 03/08/2015 19:22

Both of mine had it at about 3 yo and had lots of spots, a day of temperature, but then were fine. Not particularly itchy or distressing. both have got small scars from nasty spots but nothing terrible.

The scars were v helpful to prove to the authorities in the US that they don't need the vaccination that is mandatory here for school children because they have already had CP, though

I think it was measles that used to be the cause of parties to try to spread it around other children Smile

NobodyLivesHere · 03/08/2015 19:23

I think the death rate needs looking at closely. Most of the deaths from CP are in people who have underlying health issues like hiv as far as I'm aware.
There is a school of thought that the virus serves as better protection than the vaccine against shingles (which is potentially more dangerous than CP). I'd talk to your GP.

pommedeterre · 03/08/2015 19:26

They vaccinate in Italy against cp mainly with a mind to stopping shingles apparently. Dd2 got her first cp vaccination there and I've just paid 55£ for her to have the second one with her second mmr. Seemed silly not to finish it and I think avoiding a disease is always better if possible.

Cliffdiver · 03/08/2015 19:27

YANBU, DD2 had chicken pox a couple of months ago when she was 14mo, it was terrible... She suffered terribly and did not sleep or stop crying for a week. She had scarlet fever last year and that was mild compared to CP!

DD1 3.8yo had not had it at that point, and we decided that if she did not catch it from DD2 we would definitely get her vaccinated. Unfortunately she came down with it 2 1/2 weeks after DD2. She didn't suffer as much, but it was still pretty horrible.

ReginaFelangi · 03/08/2015 19:30

My LO is 5 and hasn't had CP despite it going around her tens of times. Apparently some kids are already immune.

softhedgehog · 03/08/2015 19:32

GP here - my oldest is vaccinated and my youngest would be too but he caught it the week before he was old enough to have the jab! Only issue is whether they will need a booster in their teens, by then we should have enough data from the USA to know or I can get their antibodies checked.

I think it would be part of the normal schedule (there is an MMRV vaccine available so not even an extra needle or appointment) but no government wants to take on the anti-vaccination nutters lobby.