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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be in two minds about the chicken pox vaccine

341 replies

trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 06:22

I’m really on the fence with this one.

On the one hand, I have two preschool children in full time childcare and a SE partner. Financially, we could be in trouble if we had to take time off work to look after them if/when they get chicken pox. Also, I don’t want them to be unwell.

However, on the other hand, them being unwell now might set them up for lifetime immunity and that would probably be ultimately better than the vaccine when it wanes - I’m also not a fan of vaccinating children when it isn’t needed, as vaccine damage can happen and yes tiny chance blah blah but why take that chance if you don’t have to? Although I haven’t read of any adverse reactions to the pox vaccine but then would I be likely to?

So I’m dithering here Grin

OP posts:
AlbusPercival · 13/07/2019 06:27

What about the potential long term complications of having chicken pox?

Rare, yes. But more likely than vaccine damage.

Two doses now and a further one at 18 confers lifetime immunity

whatswithtodaytoday · 13/07/2019 06:29

Chicken pox can be a very serious illness, even if they get it when young. Vaccine damage in incredibly rare.

Unless there is a medical reason my child shouldn't have the chicken pox vaccine (i.e. allergy), he'll be having it. It's commonly given in other countries already.

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 06:30

Well, we’ve no real idea of any stats on vaccine damage - that’s one of the anxiety inducing factors for me.

As for long term consequences of chicken pox yes that is rare but more to the point if they do get the vaccine and it wanes and they get CP as an adult that could potentially be really nasty.

I did book it last week and now I’m unsure if I did the right thing.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 13/07/2019 06:41

It is a myth that immunity from the disease is longer lasting than immunity from the vaccine (in this case at least). Also the immunity they'll get from the disease comes with a side risk of shingles. Immunity from the vaccine does not.

OK, shingles is fairly rare (but I have known two people who have had it, one of them young and healthy) and there is a risk of harm from any medical intervention, but assuming they've had their other vaccines without incident, a miniscule one, and particularly considering that the vast majority of unvaccinated children get chicken pox at some point or other, the chance of harm from the vaccine itself is much smaller than the chance of serious complications from the disease OR the chance of them incubating shingles for life.

CircleofWillis · 13/07/2019 06:41

My daughter has just recovered from chicken pox and I really wish I had gone the vaccination route. She was very unwell and uncomfortable. At its worse there was nothing I could do to relieve the itch and had to give her multiple baths just to distract her.

She was in helpless tears at times.

She had them on her tongue and couldn't eat.

She has them around her public areas so pooing and weeing was painful.

I couldn't even touch her without giving her pain for over a week.

She is now covered in chicken pox scars some of which are quite deep even though she was good about not scratching. There are some on her face which might never completely disappear.

While she had chicken pox there was also scarlet fever going around which can be extremely serious they co-occur.

That was a fairy ordinary dose of chicken pox. I can't even imagine how it would be if she had a heavier bout or if she had any of the very serious complications.

If I could go back in time I would get her vaccinated.

pinkcrocs · 13/07/2019 06:42

I wish I had gotten my dd the vaccine. I didn’t know it existed.

Firstly, dd decided to get it the day before I started a new job so I ended up a week without pay staying at home and then having to postpone a job rather embarrassingly on the start date.

Secondly, it did affect my daughter and scarring happened and I had to watch her beautiful skin pock mark. If I could go back I would 100% get the vaccine.

CircleofWillis · 13/07/2019 06:43

Cross post pink crocs!

pinkcrocs · 13/07/2019 06:43

Sorry if that didn’t make sense I meant I didn’t know the vaccine existed prior to my dd actually getting CP

pinkcrocs · 13/07/2019 06:45

@CircleofWillis yes! I tell everyone just get the vaccine now. I had never heard of it and actually wish nhs would ya least mention it regardless of you having to get it done privately. My dd got it before school so I would have known about it by then at the school gate.

Starstruck2020 · 13/07/2019 06:47

My DD had the vaccine and got a couple of chicken pocks (this was when the schedule only gave one dose. Now it’s two- in Aus anyway). Very small spots, over very quickly. Back to school quickly. Symptoms of a mild cold only. I have a few scars from my severe case as a toddler. And have had shingles twice as an adult.

I think the immunisation is definitely worth getting

ScruffGin · 13/07/2019 06:48

I'm a doctor who has seen the rare complications of nasty chickenpox, and the common scarring. Got my dd vaccinated as soon as possible and would advise anyone else to do the same

Whatisthewhat · 13/07/2019 06:50

I also thought about this for a long time. In the end the pro's massively outweighed the con's. Our eldest had the first injection last week. Youngest will have it too when he turns one.

I know of two children who've been left with scares and one who was hospitalised. I know most are fine and have it pretty mildly but didn't want to take the risk.

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 06:51

I had a nasty case of chicken pox but absolutely no scarring. How strange.

OP posts:
Bovneydazzlers · 13/07/2019 06:52

I'm wondering the same OP.

Not for the side effects of the vaccine, likelihood of any serious adverse reactions way smaller than any risks of the disease itself.

It's for the lack of knowing whether it will give lifetime immunity; if I knew it would protect for life I'd go for it in a shot, but I've only heard it protects for about 20 years, but I don't know if this is just the lack of longer term studies. If anyone has any links which evidence this Id love to be swayed. I just don't want my DS at 40 getting chicken pox as an adult as he'd had the vaccine not the disease itself..

MercifulHour · 13/07/2019 06:52

OP, it’s rare but possible to get CP twice — we vaccinated DS (7) and me recently because I’ve never had it and it can be awful in adults, and it was doing the rounds of his class — one child got it again.

Lllot5 · 13/07/2019 06:54

I would have every vaccine going. No question.

JeremyCorbynsCoat · 13/07/2019 06:56

Both my DS' have had chicken box badly. Oldest at his worst was very uncomfortable and raging fever.

Youngest very nearly admitted into hospital with complications. He was 6 months old at the time.

It's an absolutely fucking terrible illness. I'm in 2 minds about getting them vaccinated because I'm that terrified of them getting it again. Especially the baby, as my GP did warn that he may not be fully immune because if his age, despite having such a bad case.

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 06:57

I’m really surprised there are all these tales of such bad complications from CP - it’s mostly a pretty mild disease in my understanding!

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 13/07/2019 06:57

I wish I could go back in time a few months and get my twins vaccinated. They’ve both just had it, one after the other, and it was absolutely awful. Temps over 40, seriously unwell, one got a mild infection, the other a more serious one in his leg - one night he screamed for 8 hours straight, his leg was so bad he couldn’t sit upright, stand or walk until 3 days into the antibiotic treatment. One of them is covered in scars, several giant ones on his face and I have no idea if they’ll go.

It was absolutely horrendous all round. Both needed a week and a half off nursery, and the second didn’t get it until the first was finished, so if I were working full time that would have been three weeks off in a month....

I’d do it without hesitation. This is the state my poor little ones were in. It was hell for them (and for us).

SinkGirl · 13/07/2019 06:59

I have a few friends whose kids have had it quite mildly and it’s not too bad, but many others who’ve been seriously ill. I was shocked how bad it was for my boys.

TurningAroundTheBush · 13/07/2019 07:02

There is no evidence that the vaccine wears off. It hasn't been around long enough for that.

I've vaccinated my DC. To me it seems seems like common sense that if you can prevent it then why wouldn't you.

My best friend works in the children's department of a hospital and she's seen kids be seriously ill, and even died, from it. Why would you risk that.

cloudyinjune · 13/07/2019 07:03

It is a mild disease in your understanding even though people are telling you it can have fatal and serious consequences.

Children can die from chicken pox and they do every year.
A minority but it happens.
You don't seem in two minds to me, you seem to not want the vaccine so don't. We did it here.

The shingles argument is lost on me, DH had shingles last year and he had the CP as a child.

It was a no brainer for us. It is expensive but if you can afford it I would do it

cloudyinjune · 13/07/2019 07:04

And they are not tales
www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/surveillance/monitoring-varicella.html

Because the NHS doesn't provide it this info is not advertised but well known in my country

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 07:05

I am very much in two minds, Cloudy

As I outlined in my OP, my main worry is time off work set against the possibility of the vaccine wearing off and them getting it as adults.

CP often looks nasty due to the rash but for the most part there aren’t pockmarked children walking around.

OP posts:
chaosisaladder · 13/07/2019 07:08

Mine are getting vaccinated this morning. I’ve ummed and ahhed over it for a while. Glad I’m doing it though - it’s routine in other countries