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?

Just got DD vaccinated for chickenpox last week. Its not on the schedule here either but I asked her nurse about it at her 5 year check up and she got the doctor to prescribe it (and the meningitis ACWY jab too as they don't give that here either), cost 150 euros so I'm flat broke now but worth it. Her dad has never had chicken pox so would be risky for him if she caught it.

Oh and I was told that it will likely be added to the schedule in the next few years (medical professionals want it added but its a matter of budget) so I wouldn't be surprised if it gets added to the UK schedule eventually too.

Natsku Where do you live? Is it one or 2 doses your DD will receive?

Finland. It is 2 doses but the nurse said 1 dose should be sufficient, especially considering the cost. I might get her a booster when she's around 10 or so though.

The nurse just told me that many countries have been giving it routinely for years.
My DM is supposed to avoid contact with people who've had live vaccines, as takes methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, which is an immunosuppressant, I think.

2littlemonkeysjumpingonmyhead Just to say if your DC has had it done, hope it went well and didn't feel unwell after. Mine was fine btw.

www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-children-free-trial-protect-chickenpox/story-28763952-detail/story.html

I'm waiting until after a family wedding next week, but will update after.

I was planning to get dd done and this has reminded me I need to sort it. Obviously cp is nasty but I am also worried about Shingles. My understanding is they have less risk of that later in life because they are less likely to get cp at all but I need to read more. Can any of the medical people answer that? I had no scars from cp but lots from the singles I had at uni. One side of my aunts face was paralysed in her 20's by singles so anything to reduce the risk.

I am not medically trained but from the studies I have read, vaccinated children have less chance of contracting shingles in later life than unvaccinated. However, they could get shingles from the vaccine strain but it should be mild as the vaccine is a weakened version of the virus. this is assuming they don't get chicken pox at all.

I have read that it's harder to detect antibodies in vaccinated people (varicella) and commercially available assays (what's used for blood tests) do not always detect antibodies and can give false results. Apparently you can still have cell meditated immunity but the blood test won't flag that up. So my concern is that when my daughter is at a child bearing age, it might be tricky to ascertain immunity. But I may have interpretated it wrong so check with your doctor. Mine said he has never had this issue. Presumably Australia, USA etc are going to need to be able to check immunity, especially in pregnant vaccinated women. But I'm possibly overthinking it!!

Alasalas It's not your fault! Why do you blame yourself? No one knows how anyone will react to cp. I'm sorry she got it at such a little age. Hopefully the scars will fade over time.

I intend to get my youngest vaccinated as she has never had it and is now a teenager.Where do people get it done though? There used to be a private GP near me who did them but he seems to have retired. Do travel clinics do them?

There is a shingles vaccination now though so I don't think the fact they are more likely to get shingles when they are older (if they are) is an issue.

Presumably Australia, USA etc are going to need to be able to check immunity, especially in pregnant vaccinated women. But I'm possibly overthinking it!!

If the vast majority of people in those countries have been vaccinated against chicken pox then they are unlikely to catch it anyway aren't they? There will be "herd immunity".

Marynary - I was surprised to find my GP surgery do it, so try there. If they do it'll be on the list of travel vaccinations as varicella, the receptionist should be able to check for you.

Thanks 2LittleMonkeysJumpingOnMyHead I'll try that.

marynary yes, they will be protected by herd immunity. Ask your gp first, if not, Google private doctors/travel clinics. My daughters was done at a private GP. £130 per shot, second one must be a least 4 weeks apart. Have seen them advertised cheaper though.

Yes, there is a shingles jab available for the over 70's. It's basically the chicken pox vaccine but much, much stronger.

I got my DD vaccinated privately abroad (they tried to talk me out of it) but they never mentioned a second injection. I think she was about 3 or 4 at the time. I see some people here talking about boosters when a teen - that appears to be after 2 injections as a child. Do some countries offer the vaccine in one dose or do I need to try to get the second one? It's been about 3 or 4 years since the first one.

Hi Craziemaizie I have also never heard of a third teenage booster, nor is that mentioned on the CDC website. 2 doses are now recommended and anyone who has only ever had 1 dose the recommendation is to get the 2nd dose.

Are you in England? It's not routinely offered here so you would get 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart if you went private.

Oz routinely give 1 dose to under 12's but recommend parents pay for the 2nd. Over 12's there who never got 1 dose or cp get given 2 doses.

I have found nothing that says you have to restart the two doses if you only ever received one so if you wanted to get the booster dose, it would be just 1 more dose. Eg, in America, they introduced 2 doses after 10 years because of all the breakthrough cases and recommend anyone that only got 1 dose, got a "catch up" dose if they never got cp.

Hope that helps. But obviously seek medical advise.

I should also mention each dose is of the same amount so countries offering 1 dose, don't have a bigger amount of vaccine in it.

Thanks for he info. 2010sll - we're not in the UK. I'll contact the GP here and see whether another dose is necessary. I was prompted to get this done originally because a friends child became incredibly sick and hospitalised after catching CP.