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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to consider the chicken pox vaccine?

119 replies

PassiveAggressivePamela · 23/02/2018 10:34

Reposting from children’s health as no replies....anyone’s DC had the CP vaccine? I have a DS who is 3.5 and has avoided every bout of it at his nursery, and a baby DD.

DH isn’t sure if he’s ever had it. Just wondering if it’s worth getting the DC the vaccine privately...no health issues, I know for some it’s mild and for a few it isn’t.

OP posts:
doowapwap · 23/02/2018 19:27

Get the vaccine. I had no idea how dangerous chickenpox could be until my child nearly died due to chickenpox complications. He was under 1 and I've never seen anything like it. It will haunt me forever. Ds made a full recovery but it took months

blackteasplease · 23/02/2018 19:32

DS had it after dd had particularly suffered with it when she had it (long before his birth, big gap)

splendide · 23/02/2018 19:40

DS had it, no side effects at all.

formerbabe · 23/02/2018 19:41

I wish we had it in the uk as part of the routine vaccination schedule.

I don't think I've ever had it and I was so worried about getting chicken pox when I was pregnant.

My dc are now 7 and nearly 10. Neither has had it yet despite there being many cases at nursery and school.

Yura · 23/02/2018 19:42

We've done it for the oldest, waiting for the baby to be old enough. i have nasty permanent scaring, wouldn't wish that on anybody!

blardyfeck · 23/02/2018 19:44

I wish I had had my boys vaccinated. Eldest DS had a terrible case of CP. He got it at age 6 and was so ill, in so much pain, off school for 2 weeks. I took him to the doctor & he was given ibuprofen. That's all they could prescribe. He could hardly walk to the car. The nights were horrendous as he could barely lie down due to his entire body being covered in spots. When I think about it now it brings tears to my eyes. It was truly dreadful.
My youngest DS caught it a couple of years later & it was luckily a mild case.
Even so I would wholeheartedly recommend the vaccination.

Bertiemcgertie · 23/02/2018 19:52

My child had a stroke due to chickenpox. A simple Google search of chickenpox and childhood stroke gives all the facts you need to see how it's linked.

And there are others like me who have been through similar facing a lifetime of disability due to chickenpox.

Would I have vaccinated had I known it could cause a stroke? Absolutely without question.

Roomba · 23/02/2018 19:55

I've wondered about getting DS2 vaccinated. He's 5 and has somehow avoided catching it so far. I just know that he will be miserable as sin with it and ignore instructions not to scratch, so he'll end up covered in scars! At least DS1 was a baby when he got it - much easier to tape scratch mitts on him, and he only has a couple of tiny scars.

namechangedtoday15 · 23/02/2018 19:56

Didn't do it only because 8 years ago, it wasn't widely available (when my children had it). All 3 of them had it simultaneously, youngest DD was 11 months old and was very poorly. DS had it again 2 years later (but a milder dose).

But we have 2 family friends whose children had strokes as a side effect of CP. One boy was in hospital hundreds of miles from home for 6 months.

Its not about saving yourself from having to take time off work. Its about preventing a really nasty and harmful illness. If my children hadn't already had it, I would vaccinate in a heartbeat.

Roomba · 23/02/2018 19:56

Oh god, that read like all I was bothered about was scars Blush. Obviously I would wish to avoid potentially life threatening complications too!

flairyfairy · 23/02/2018 20:14

Have read this all with interest, we’re planning to get our DS (12 months) vaccinated, in fact he is booked in shortly but for a week after his MMR jab. They didn’t ask anything about his 12 month vaccines when we booked it. Can anyone tell me what the timing issue is?

namechangedtoday15 · 23/02/2018 20:20

I would think that if your immune system is run down (If it's fighting a live vaccine) then they won't add another live vaccine on top for fear of overloading the immune system. Not an expert though at all.

flairyfairy · 23/02/2018 20:27

I’ve just googled it and it says you need a 4 week gap because of greater risk of developing a mild case following vaccination. You’d think that the clinic would flag that when you book in a 12 month old. Hey ho - rebooking on Monday.

Absofrigginlootly · 23/02/2018 20:29

We moved to the states when DD was 7 months so she got the CO vaccine at a year old as standard. Otherwise we would have paid for it.

I had to pay about $500 I think for her MenC booster - as that's not standard and I cannot get the MenB for her because apparently they don't have the vaccine in the whole of the USA!! I contacted a consultant in infectious diseases and also the drug company who make the vaccine directly.

Madness

Anyway, as soon as we are back in the uk (hopefully this summer!) I will be paying for her to have Men B. She's 3 so I don't think she'd be eligible on the NHS....?

Absofrigginlootly · 23/02/2018 20:30

*CP not CO

SleepingInNewYork · 23/02/2018 21:20

@flairyfairy You are generally advised to have it on the same day as the MMR (many countries have a four in one, MMRV) or else to wait a month. In fairness, the side effects of the MMR can last almost a month as measles is usually around a week after the jab and mumps the following week.

helen650 · 23/02/2018 21:24

Haven’t read the replies yet, but, I’ve got 3 children who all had chicken pox in age order every 2 weeks... youngest who was 1.5 at the time was so poorly was admitted to hospital and absolutely pickled it was horrible. I said if I ever had another baby I would pay for the vaccine. He had chest X-rays as it also started a chest infection, the other 2 were sore and itchy but nothing as bad.

Pollaidh · 23/02/2018 21:31

DS' consultant recommended he get vaccinated, as he has underlying health issues meaning more likely to have serious complications. Have to say, it was nice not to have a poorly child off nursery for a week though, regardless of any other issues, which is what happened with DD.

In many countries they routinely vaccinate for CP.

Elpheba · 23/02/2018 21:32

I got DD vaccinated at 13 months old but only done one dose as she was ill for follow up one and never got round to scheduling (now 22 months). Not sure whether to do second one given that it only increases immunity by a handful of percentage points but might do it later. Will definitely get next DC done with at least one jab too. Money was tight but I researched it loads and read about lots of doctors commenting how common it was to have a ward full of children with chicken pox complications that can be really severe and life long and yet no one really talks about it being a serious illness. Comparatively to Men B it's much riskier as so many children get it and you just don't know how yours will react. Was reassured that other countries vaccinate as standard and that it is a cost issue here. Finally, thought about the fact that I could ill afford a week of work and if I could prevent her being ill and miserable for £65 then why wouldn't I. Felt like a no brainer by that point!

JaneEyre70 · 23/02/2018 21:38

I was delivered with my 1st baby by a student midwife who had shingles and went to work but didn't know what it was Hmm. My newborn DD and I both had the CP vaccine from our GP to prevent infection. DD did actually get CP around 4 but literally had 2 spots and I only knew as other kids at school had it. Unfortunately she gave it to our 6 month old DD2, who ended up with blisters in her ears, mouth, nose and groin area and got so dehydrated from being unable to feed, she needed to go on a drip in hospital and had to be sedated as she was so distressed. There wasn't a cm of her without a spot on, and it was truly horrendous. She also has permanent scarring on her face, back and arms. I can still remember those awful 2 weeks.

If you can, get the vaccine. I actually want to punch people who say it's a minor illness and should be passed on.... for some kids it's much more serious.

SunnyCoco · 23/02/2018 21:49

I had my 3 yr old vaccinated for CP. I was told it would protect her for one year, and the booster / 2nd jab would then protect her for around 25 years.
If you have a newborn baby they are considered an ‘at risk’ group, so your toddler shouldn’t be given the vaccine until the baby is 3-6 months old.

Best of luck

Original poster
PassiveAggressivePamela · 23/02/2018 22:10

sunny the baby is almost 10 months now (where has time gone?!) so all should be well on that front.

blardy that sounds awful, it must have been so uncomfotable Sad I’m surprised your DC was given ibuprofen - I was reading the NHS page for CP earlier and it said not to give that, just paracetamol!

OP posts:
Lndnmummy · 23/02/2018 22:20

My dad had it at 3yrs no regrets at all

Lndnmummy · 23/02/2018 22:20

Ds not dad

Esspee · 23/02/2018 22:25

I can't understand why any parent who could afford it would not protect their children from what could be a very serious disease.