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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask... Would you give your child chicken pox deliberately?

214 replies

LinkyPlease · 08/03/2018 09:24

DD's cousin is due over tomorrow for a sleepover. Cousin has just been diagnosed with chicken pox.

Should we go ahead with sleepover, assuming cousin feels well enough, in the knowledge it will likely lead to DD catching chicken pox?

DD is 4 (not at school yet), cousin turning 6, and I've got a 9 month old at home to who woke this morning with a high temp so he might be ailing with something toi

OP posts:
CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 11:02

If you decide to have children, you should be able to pay for their food and bare essential, health being one of them!

childmindingmumof3 · 08/03/2018 11:03

I don't think the ability to afford private health care is essential when having children.

GameOfPoseys · 08/03/2018 11:04

A vaccine being available is only useful if you are able to pay for it.

I would live on cold baked beans for a month to make sure my kids are vaccinated.

GameOfPoseys · 08/03/2018 11:06

You don't need private healthcare to have kids. You can get the vaccination at boots or your GPs but you do have to pay for it. About £60 if I remember correctly.

CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 11:06

we are not talking about private health care (until the NHS still stands, but watch this space) we are talking about a private jab whilst most of the others are "free"

I do realise that it adds up when you have to pay for BCG, meningitis and chicken pox but it's not a surprise cost.

CloudPop · 08/03/2018 11:07

My son had chicken pox at 8 months and I was told by the GP that he wouldn't necessarily be immune going forward as he was too young for his immune system to be guaranteed to do its thing

Liskee · 08/03/2018 11:09

Having been through 2 lots of chicken pox with both DC this month, I’d say no. It’s one thing if they get it (and it’s so likely they will) but I wouldn’t expose them to it intentionally.

SemiConsciousRobot · 08/03/2018 11:10

I read somewhere that the NHS doesn't put the CP vaccine on the usual vax programme because it increases the likelihood of them then getting shingles instead. Is this still the case? I'm unsure what to do for DS.

There is also a vaccine for shingles.

CoolGirlsNeverGetAngry · 08/03/2018 11:11

I believe the jab is only after 12 months? Hopefully others can confirm ?

SemiConsciousRobot · 08/03/2018 11:13

The NHS decision not to offer the CP vaccine is purely about saving money. Most other developed countries offer it as standard.

Getting the vaccine is a no brainer compared to taking such a risk with your child's health, or even if they have a mild reaction, having to take so long off work and watch them suffer unnecessarily.

Mari50 · 08/03/2018 11:13

Having met a child who became quadriplegic, deaf and blind after contracting chicken pox- no, I would never expose my child to it deliberately.

SemiConsciousRobot · 08/03/2018 11:14

@CoolGirlsNeverGetAngry yes from 12 months, two doses 4 weeks apart. The forst gives immunity straight away, the second ensures they stay immune as adults.

manicmumday1 · 08/03/2018 11:17

My niece died after contracting chicken pox which lead to sepsis, so no I wouldn't risk it and can't for the life of me think why anyone would.

AgathaMystery · 08/03/2018 11:18

The vaccine is the best £100 I ever spent. Why anyone would deliberately infect their child with this awful disease I do not know.

I have facial scars from it. I would never put my child through it.

Lunde · 08/03/2018 11:20

No

You cannot know how severe it will be for your child before they get it. It may be mild, or they could be hospitalized or they could be scarred for life.

DD1 had a fairly mild version with spots, fever but even febrile convulsions. DD2 had a more severe version with fever, convulsions and had excruciatinly painful giant blisters all over her body including mucous membranes (inside her mouth and in her vagina). DD2 was left with some permanent scarring including on her face.

CavoliRiscaldati · 08/03/2018 11:20

For all people who believe that chicken pox is mild only because the NHS doesn't provide the vaccine, I would remind them that the NHS doesn't offer treatment for some cancer either, and research into pediatric brain tumour is non-existent. It doesn't make DIPG any less deadly.

Not being a priority for the NHS means nothing.

puglife15 · 08/03/2018 11:20

"I would live on cold baked beans for a month to make sure my kids are vaccinated."

What about people already using food banks etc?

It's a vaccine for the privileged sadly.

I've not given the vaccine as I hear it doesn't last meaning if your child didn't keep up with boosters they can get CP as an adult which is more likely to be dangerous.

Frombothsidesnow · 08/03/2018 11:22

It's not just about money. The NHS were about to add it to the vaccine schedule but there was so much anti-vaxx stuff going on that they didn't want to risk destabilising the situation more by introducing a new jab. It's not 100% effective so that also informed the decision - not to risk the more effective vaccine rates for the sake of chicken pox.

You can have the jab from 12 months. My DD did after my elder child was hospitalised with CP at 2, and had a horrendous time.

More children die in the UK each year from chicken pox than from meningitis.

TroubledLichen · 08/03/2018 11:28

Get her vaccinated (for others that have asked they have to be at least 12 months). It’s on the standard vaccination schedule for most other western countries including the USA, Canada, France etc. and it’s definitely preferable to allowing her to catch it from her cousin. Utterly ridiculous the NHS still thinks it’s acceptable for kids to get it in order to save money. As some of the experiences upthread describe it can be horrific for some children.

eurochick · 08/03/2018 11:31

JustVent the vaccine is none of those things. It is easily obtainable at pharmacies and travel clinics. It's not very expensive. I don't understand why it isn't in the standard vaccination schedule, as it is in many other countries.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/03/2018 11:31

If at all possible, I would get them vaccinated.

Even if they have it mildly, it's an absolute bugger being largely confined to home/away from other kids for ages/being unable to send them to nursery, etc. Just as one is no longer contagious, Sod's law says the other will be coming down with it.

It does seem to be worse with younger children. My age 2 had it rather worse than the 5 year old.
I certainly wouldn't want a 9 month old to catch it.

SemiConsciousRobot · 08/03/2018 11:33

It's not just about money. The NHS were about to add it to the vaccine schedule but there was so much anti-vaxx stuff going on that they didn't want to risk destabilising the situation more by introducing a new jab. It's not 100% effective so that also informed the decision - not to risk the more effective vaccine rates for the sake of chicken pox.

If this is true it's even more disgraceful than not funding it for financial reasons. Clinical commissioning decisions should be made based on medical science not pandering to ignorant behaviour patterns. Sad

LeighaJ · 08/03/2018 11:34

No, I've never understood people who purposely expose their kids to chicken pox. If worst case scenario happens then you're the one who did that to them.

They're bound to get it eventually all on their own anyway.

SunnyCoco · 08/03/2018 11:38

Just get the vaccination
£65 per dose, two doses needed
Child can be vaccinated from the age of one year and up, as long as they’ve had no live vaccinations within the last month

GameOfPoseys · 08/03/2018 11:39

It's a vaccine for the privileged sadly.
No it's not. I am definitely not privileged. I did go without to make sure my DC were vaccinated though.

I've not given the vaccine as I hear it doesn't last meaning if your child didn't keep up with boosters they can get CP as an adult which is more likely to be dangerous.
This isn't true. It's a line trotted out to make people who don't vaccinate feel better about not doing it. My GP and senior pediatric nurse friend who has seen some awful cases (including death) of CP say this is bollocks,