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

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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

Dr's are more likely to follow up for boosters and get re vaccinated.
Some of the people here advocating for vaccines don't seem to know this is necessary.

DD is one of those unfortunate people who has caught chicken pox three times (so far). She has had 2 mild cases and one really bad case. The last time it was really bad

I have heared SO many people say this - about the 'ten spot' mild cases their dc have a couple or more times before getting a bad version.

It's incredibly rare to get CP more than once - far more likely that the first two 'mild cases' were actually other illnesses that were misdiagnosed as CP.

Well it's not actually been proven re-vaccination is necessary, the data isn't available because the vaccination hasn't been around long enough.
A simple blood test can be done at the GPs to test immunity.

My friend's fit (played competitive sport, ran marathons) healthy 30 year husband caught Chicken pox

Ended up with 2 weeks in ITU; one of those on a ventilator, 2 months on a general medical ward, and months of Physio.

They traced the connection to their nephews birthday party, where a set of parents had made the decision that CP isn't that bad and they should get when they're young so send their infected child to the party.

Thankfully; and I mean that sarcastically the immuno-suppressed child who was invited had a cold and didn't attend.....

It's incredibly rare to get CP more than once - far more likely that the first two 'mild cases' were actually other illnesses that were misdiagnosed as CP

I did, and so did my brother, him twice and me three times. All properly diagnosed as chicken pox by a paediatrician.

Why people think that vaccination = immunity???

My sister has had it (diagnosed) three times. She has no antibodies still and thus would be susceptible again.

It’s certainly not common but it’s not vanishingly rare either. Some people just don’t raise an antibody response, or they may have had something like measles in the interim. I suspect this is what happened to her as there was no MMR when we were kids.
Contracting measles as a young child ‘wipes’ the immune memory, leaving children susceptible to infectious diseases they’ve previously had.

Why people think that vaccination = immunity???

I sense an agenda but I’ll bite.

Because the goal of vaccination is immunity. As with exposure to any disease via any method, a small minority of people don’t raise antibodies. That’s the case whether that exposure is to wild virus, live or dead or attenuated vaccine.

The vast majority do, either a full or a partial response. Even in a partial response the disease of caught is likely to be markedly less severe.

So yes, In general, vaccination does indeed equal immunity.

This is where you have an illogical anti science rant against vaccines if previous experience serves me correctly. Off you go.

Mine had it at that age and it was perfect in terms of not missing anything- not yet at school, I was still on maternity leave, no holidays booked, it was even fine weather so we were able to be outside, not near other people, not hot. I remember at the time that if they had to have it, it couldn't have been easier.
However I couldn't purposely encourage them to contract it. Imagine if it was a virulent strain, or they didn't recover swiftly, or passed it in to someone immunity suppressed.
Cancel the sleepover OP

Why people think that vaccination = immunity???

do you not understand what vaccines are?

I would never deliberately expose a child as if they had complications and died you could never forgive yourself. It is defo easier on them if they get it younger though. Maybe your youngest is already on the way. It’s contagious for a week or so before the spots come out so if they’ve already seen their cousin they may already have it

I do understand, thank you for your concern, and I am not about to start discussion if it's right or wrong to vaccinate, but vaccinated people do get diseases they were vaccinated against, so vaccinate a child does not mean the child is immune.

that's not the point though, is it?

Tiddler, you know you can have your immunity checked though right?

My 5 yr old has just returned to school after having. It was hell but his 3 brothers age 7,8 and 10 soon replaced him, all with chicken pox and a lot iller than he was. If i could afford the jabs I would, it should be available as this can be just as serious as measles

but vaccinated people do get diseases they were vaccinated against, so vaccinate a child does not mean the child is immune.

No medical body has ever said that immunisation is 100%. It isn’t and this is noted in all package inserts and on the NHS website and other sources. What tends to happen is that the person can get the disease but it’s much milder - thus reducing illness and deaths. A very few people don’t respond at all.
It’s the same as exposure to wild disease - some people (the vast majority) display immunity to a virus after they’ve been exposed or had the disease. Some don’t. (And some diverse diseases don’t raise an immune response sufficient or specific enough to protect against all strains eg flu or colds, but that’s another matter.)

What matters is the proportion of people in a population who are vaccinated - once that reaches a critical level, even with non responders you get sufficient people immune to stop the circulation of the virus.

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make? Are you arguing against vaccination or just being pedantic?

I am not been pedantic as I have had 4 of my children catch it in the last few weeks my eldest daughter needed antibiotics years ago she was so ill.I know it can affect people I come from a personal point of view with a house full of sick children one with a bad temperature it affects people in different ways .

I think immunisation for chicken pox should be available just as measles is. If it was available available on the nhs I would have chosen to have it as I know it's not 100% but reduction in risk would have been a personal choice for me others may disagree

When people say that they are not happy vaccinating everyone jumps down their throats and says that they are being irresponsible and how can they know more than the medical authorities etc.

Yet the medical authorities take the view that vaccination against CP is not necessary and everyone is jumping down the throats of those who choose not to pay to vaccinate.

Seems a little inconsistent to me. Either you trust the authorities or you don't.

It is probably the case that the decision not to vaccinate against CP is at least in part an economic one (though I understand that it has something to do with shingles) but every decision to vaccinate is an economic one - because dealing with the odd side effect is a lot cheaper than the burden of dealing with illness and the loss in economic terms when parents are having to take time off work to look after their children.

But the people who choose not to or simply cannot afford to pay £££ to vaccinate their children against CP should not be criticised.

Contracting measles as a young child ‘wipes’ the immune memory, leaving children susceptible to infectious diseases they’ve previously had

Just spotted this. Really? I've never heard of this before (just googled and found articles on it). That means I could get CP again as I had it at 3 but had measles at 5. It would explain why I got mumps twice, too. But I wonder if that means I won't ever get shingles as you only get that if you've had CP?

I agree with youTotally. Vaccinations should not be unavailable to anyone who chooses it, but obviously nhs has to budget as there is not enough to go around.

I hope I don't get it again! I was 28 and my first born and I had it first followed by my daughter who had it so bad I hope she avoids it now she's 25yrs with autism.

But I wonder if that means I won't ever get shingles as you only get that if you've had CP?

You can only get shingles if you’ve had CP. the virus hides in part of the nerve and can reactivate. The wipe is only for the immune memory, the virus will still be there and so yes, it’s possible you can get shingles.

Well, I'm about to sound very stupid, I didn't even know there was a vaccine! I don't know anyone that's ever had it and it's never been mentioned by any health visitor or anything. I've never even seen a sign post for it in a pharmacy or GP surgery. I've been really concerned about DS getting chicken pox especially now he's at nursery and I'm pregnant with number 2. DH has never had chicken pox and I'm so worried he'll get really ill if the kids get it. So thank you for all the people that pointed out get vaccinated, I feel thick as shit but I'll be looking in to getting that sorted

All three of us were deliberately allowed to play with children who had chicken pox to catch it and get it done with. My two nephews accidentally caught from nursery and I would have no worries about putting my baby in contact with an infected child if he hadn't caught it by accident by school age. Never had any issues with any of us and I've always been told that getting shingles is much worse, wouldn't want to risk that