To be in two minds about the chicken pox vaccine

[trippingovertoysinthedark]

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

Does anyone have links to papers on waning natural immunity to chickenpox? I’m struggling to find any. General medical consensus seems to be that second cases are still considered to be uncommon and that people may have been misdiagnosed with their first case.

whilst getting a bunch of travel vaccs and my flu shot my doc recommended I get a booster of the childhood ones, including pertussis, tetanus and CP

And that is another area where the NHS differs, as it no longer promotes tetanus boosters (or not after a certain age, I last had one over 20 years ago).

User, the vaccine is less effective in adults so you could be more likely to be left susceptible to it when you are more likely to suffer complications.

Possibly, but having had no vaccine or exposure to it at all would likely leave me much more at risk.

Everything has risks associated with it. I just don’t understand the argument that having to get a booster for something every 10+ years is a significant enough worry to stop people getting a vaccination against an illness that is incredibly common.

I think it’s more the concern that you don’t know when your immunity has waned and that subsequent boosters may not be as effective, leaving you vulnerable as an adult when you’re more likely to face complications. You’re basically taking the risk of postponing it until adulthood when it could be more dangerous. In comparison, if you contract it as a child you are less likely to have complications and, according to general medical consensus, you will have long term immunity to it well into adulthood.

You’re basically taking the risk of postponing it until adulthood when it could be more dangerous.

If only there were other countries who’d been vaccinating children for decades so that this concern could be reviewed...

User, the vaccine is less effective in adults so you could be more likely to be left susceptible to it when you are more likely to suffer complications.

had the vaccine as I had no immunity. A few years later I had some chemo. After my doctor checked with a blood test what, if anything, I still had immunity to. Nothing survived except the CP immunity from the vaccine I'd had.

My doctor said if I was ever wondering about immunity then I could get a simple blood test at the GPs. It's very easy to test.

Nolonger, the second dose of the vaccine was not introduced that long ago. (Recommended in 2006) so the countries you’re talking about don’t have data on whether it lasts long term or not either. The single dose didn’t - that’s why they’ve tried adding a second dose.

Beanery, yes you can test for it but do you really think people are going to pay to have blood tests done every few years?

It cost me nothing to get tested. Except 10 minutes of my time.
Get tested every 10 years. I really don't see why it's a big deal.

Even in America for adults teaching in schools (pennsylvania) they are not asking to be tested every 10 years, all they ask is that you have a gp record of CP or evidence of 2 vaccinations.

The nhs wont test for no reason. ..
Also if immunity does wane with the jab and the jab is less effective as a adult you are leaving your selves more vunerable to complications from the pox
It's rare to get chicken pox twice but we don't actually know yet if chicken pox vaccine immunity will wane

I wasn't suggesting people should be tested every 10 years, just that they could if they were worried.

Once the vaccine has been around longer and the data is there it will be good.

I personally am very glad my DC were vaccinated. When CP went round their school most kids were off a few days, but 2 were hospitalised, one in ICU.

Like with everything, you weigh up the pros and cons and decide what is right for your family.

Emma what do you think about the MMR? Did you give that to your kids (if you have them) or you think its preferable to have the actual illness?
If CP vaccine was added into the UK schedule would you opt out?

My daughter has had all the vaccines available on the NHS
Yes I would give it then if in the NHS as I trust them to decide what is needed . I am not a medical professional
MMR has been around longer to show how long the immunity lasts
I'd like to see what happens in counties who vaccinate for CP routinely in 40-50 years ...

Will be interesting to see if it does get added to the schedule by the NHS anytime soon, does seem like more and more parents are opting for the vaccine now if they can afford it.

If the NHS thinks enough will do it privately it won't add it to the schedule will it .

I don't know anyone at my kids nursery who have vaccinated