To consider vaccinating against chicken pox?

[Chipshopninja]

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?

Yeah that's right MrsJ. That's in Surrey.

Men B you do one then another in 4 months and a third a year later though (and pay at the time of the jabs) so a bit spread out. But yeah it's loads. :(

honeylulu - you are absolutely right. Because of the number of breakthrough cases, 2 doses were introduced. We are due back in a few weeks. Breakthrough cases are generally milder but it's not for certain. Especially if the first vaccine didn't take for some reason.

MrsJamin - We are paying £130 per jab which includes the consultation fee

There are places which are much cheaper. If you are doing it for a medical reason, eg, sibling or family member has cancer, your gp surgery will do it for free.

honeylulu - yes, there are probably more breakthrough cases but doctors don't recognise them as cp as mild. I think all the stats are from clinical trials. It's not known if bv cases will become more severe the longer time goes on for those who only received one jab. If you haven't read them yet, the links I put up are really useful.

Thanks I will read the links. Def inclining towards a second dose now.

How did you all find the clinics that offer it privately? Do you just google?

Got all 3 of mine done. They've all had 2 doses. I think my brother and I must have had really bad cases of it because we both have some fairly noticeable facial scars as adults. Anyway, I thought (without any scientific basis) that my kids might be the same, so I got them vaccinated.

We had our youngest son vaccinated. Well, I say we, it was my husband who had taken him to the doctor that day and said yes.

A couple of years later the eldest caught chicken pox and shared with me, made it to 40 before getting it, the wee one had three spots on his belly but that was it.

Katedotness1963 - was it your wee one who was vaccinated that had the three spots? And did he receive 1 or 2 doses?

2littlemonkeysjumpingonmyhead Yes, I just googled. If there's a medical need, nhs should do it. If no medical need, private clinic. Although some gps will do it. Guess it depends on the doctor etc.

3phase were the doses within 13 weeks apart?

Wish the nhs would incorporate it here! My private gp said its down to budget why it's not happened yet.

I called the GP and the receptions st checked the 'holiday vaccibes' list for varicella and they do do it privately. I should get a call from the nurse to discuss on Monday.

We are from Australia where CP vaccine is routine at 18 months. Fortunately we happened to be back around that time so I got DS done. If we hadn't been, I definitely would have paid to have it done privately here.

The vaccine may not stop him from getting it at all, but hopefully it will only be a mild dose.

KP86 Am I right I thinking they only offer the 1 dose in Australia? And are vaccinations compulsory? You lose various payments I think if you don't get the vaccinated. I just wondered what that meant to those who want the mmr but are only offered the mmrv. Mildly curiosity really.

2littlemonkeysjumpingonyourhead hope your conversation with the nurse goes well. I added some links on this thread that might be of interest to you.

I got mine done! I googled it and as we live in between two clinics compared the prices. Surrey was double the price of Winchester, which was where we went so it's worth comparing. Cost me 2x£60 jabs.
Men B IS expensive 2x £120 jabs or 3x£120 in the under 2's!!! Hoping they implement a catch up programme soon xxx

There will be no catch up programme for Men B I'm afraid so unless your children are babies they are not eligible

Yes, I think it's only one dose. DS doesn't have any vacs due until 4yo now.

They have just linked vaccinations to getting some payments, like Family Tax Benefits (I think that's like CTC here) and you can't claim Childcare Rebate or Benefits to reduce your childcare costs if your child isn't vaccinated.

So no, not compulsory but if you don't then you miss out on payments.

Child care centres are also permitted to refuse attendance for non-vaccinated children, unless they have a medical reason not to be.

And children who medically cannot be vaccinated are not affected by the stop to govt payments. But parents can no longer 'conscientiously object' like before.

To update: the nurse was really helpful and positive. I'm in hampshire and they charge £55 per shot, so £110 total. I plan to go ahead.
Does anyone know if they feel poorly after it? I'd like to time it carefully if so!

It's a horrible disease and cost us more than the vaccine would in days off to look after sick ds.

It is a live vaccine.

I'll need to time it when we wont be seeing my mum, then, as she has to avoid live vaccines. Thank you.

You don't need to avoid your mum as it can't be transmitted to her after your child has the vaccine. It's just not safe for her to have a live vaccine herself.

my daughter has been fine. The most common side effect is a bit of a sore arm and possibly fever. Not sure how old yours is but mine is 5 and was a bit more "aware" of the injection. A bag of chocolate helped with that. And no doubt will require another one in a few weeks time. Glad the nurse was positive. What were her comments, out of interest.

It's highly unlikely she will pass the virus on. If she gets a chicken pox rash from the injection then yes, there's a chance but it is VERY unlikely still. But do whatever gives you peace of mind.

I was told by the doctor to avoid contact with pregnant women and immunosuppressed people after my son was given the vaccine. Although she did say that prolonged contact would be needed to be a problem - I asked because I was a bit worried about nursery as there are lots of pregnant women dropping kids off.

Better safe than sorry then

I had both my children vaccinated against chicken pox. My eldest had it in her standard baby vaccinations in Turkey so I paid to have my youngest done once we moved back to the UK. They did it at our local GP, it cost £70 for 2 doses.

In Turkey they just have 1 dose but in the UK they have a booster a year after the first one.

I never had chicken pox as a child but I am immune somehow, I found out by having a blood test when I was pregnant.