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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:
53rdWay · 13/07/2019 11:43

While I imagine I’ll get accused of nefariously lying about this or something, I would really like it if the NHS did put chickenpox on the childhood schedule. I don’t see it happening right now, though. Maybe in 10-20 years when we have longer evidence on the longevity, and hopefully some more resources for the NHS.

MollysMummy2010 · 13/07/2019 11:44

My daughter ended up in hospital for three days. I would have immunised if I had only known about it.

zsazsajuju · 13/07/2019 11:45

@53rdWay my dd were vaccinated against tb on the NHS. And smallpox is eradicated so I would be absolutely bonkers to get my dds vaccinated against that. Cholera doesn’t circulate anywhere they’ve been so again, no need to get vaccinated. Chicken pox on the other hand circulates commonly in the U.K.

The varicella vaccine has been around for decades with no evidence at all it wears off. It has been extensively studied and part of routine vaccination in the US for over 20 years. The vast majority of people there who get serious complications and die from chicken pox (children and adults) are those who have not been vaccinated (not those who have been vaccinated and had it “wear off”) despite the vast majority of the younger population being vaccinated. So the rubbish about it “wearing off” is not a concern based in science.

There is simply no evidence at all that there is any scientific reason not to vaccinate against chicken pox. Every other developed country gives the vaccine as a matter of course and it’s time the NHS did too. Until it does, I would pay for it privately.

Miljah · 13/07/2019 11:46

The CP vaccine wasn't on the schedule when mine were babies; both caught it aged 1 and 3; fortunately not badly and no obvious scars.

DS1 got shingles a month ago, luckily MN diagnosed it for me, straight to the GP and immediately on a 7 day dose of 5 a day anti-virals, which contained it so he got away with it, thank heavens, as my DB was off work for a fortnight as a young adult with shingles, and a work colleague of mine was on steroids for shingles around her eye for so long, they had to use IVF to get pregnant as getting over the shingles took so long.

nolongersurprised · 13/07/2019 11:48

The varicella vaccine has been around for decades with no evidence at all it wears off. It has been extensively studied and part of routine vaccination in the US for over 20 years.

It’s been on the schedule for 14 years in Australia.

53rdWay · 13/07/2019 11:48

So the rubbish about it “wearing off” is not a concern based in science.

Again, vaccine immunity wanes over time. More so for some vaccines than for others. Measles is very long-lasting. Mumps and pertussis, less so.

If you think that immunity waning over time is some ridiculous anti-scientific conspiracy I’m making up, then there’s no way to have any sensible conversation about this.

53rdWay · 13/07/2019 11:50

(To clarify that - I’m not saying that all vaccine immunity is limited by time! Often you can get lifelong immunity, eg measles (usually). We don’t yet have decent evidence on where varicella sits on this because it hasn’t been around long enough.)

Missillusioned · 13/07/2019 11:50

There's always the possibility that they won't catch it as children and then will get it as an adult. I did and it properly laid me out for 3 weeks and my spots were so bad I looked like a mediaeval plague victim. Literally no skin between the spots. And I've had shingles too. Which wasn't as bad as the initial chicken pox.

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 11:52

That’s another concern miss

OP posts:
nolongersurprised · 13/07/2019 12:05

There's always the possibility that they won't catch it as children and then will get it as an adult.

But that’s actually less likely in a country where it’s not on the vaccine schedule. Continual exposure to wild-type virus from non vaccinated people will boost immunity among the vaccinated population.

I read a good article for HCPs back in 2005 when it first came in to the Australian schedule and it was the same advice as my public health doctor friend - do it, but check antibodies in teenage years and give a booster if necessary.

Dr273 · 13/07/2019 12:41

The science really isn't in on this one. A group of science communicators put their heads together, one wrote up all the evidence, and here is everything you may need to consider! thegeekfatherblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/25/why-doesnt-the-uk-have-a-chickenpox-vaccination-programme/

Helentvpritchard · 13/07/2019 12:51

I think and believe that all parents should have their children vaccinated, in fact I think that it should be made compulsory. The Internet is full of misinformation and you should only believe the advice that the NHS tells you. If you can't put your child's life first by getting them vaccinated then you shouldn't be parents.

Eastie77 · 13/07/2019 12:51

OP, you're unlikely to get balanced feedback here. The vast majority of children who get CP are absolutely fine. However many people who respond to this thread will (understandably) be within the minority of parents whose children were badly affected by it and so will urge you to get the vaccine.

My DC are 3 and 6. Both had had CP and recovered quickly with no after affects. It never crossed my mind to get them vaccinated against it tbh. I know dozens of children who have had CP and not a single one was hospitalised or badly scarred including DD's best friend who was covered head to toe in spots. I have never met anyone who was hospitalised with this illness as a child and can't recall this happening to anyone when I was a child.

The NHS guidelines give clear and reasoned advice as to why the vaccine is not on the childhood schedule and that's good enough for me. All that said, I'd advise talking to your GP about this. Everyone's opinion on this thread - including mine - will be coloured by our personal experiences.

Original poster
trippingovertoysinthedark · 13/07/2019 12:53

Well that’s why I’m a bit bewildered by these tales of permanently scarred DCs - I really know no one, even in a removed sense, who had any complications at all!

helene it isn’t a pro or anti vaccine thread. My children will have the vaccines that benefit them, it’s as simple as that.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 13/07/2019 13:02

Why are you bewildered though? You know complications occur - evidence of that has been posted throughout the thread, and that’s actually serious medical complications, not just scarring which frankly was the least of my worries when I thought my son may be developing sepsis. So of course if you post about vaccinations, you’ll attract people who have been severely affected by the illness.

Eastie77 · 13/07/2019 13:04

@trippingovertoysinthedark I find it bewildering as well. None of the parents I know IRL consider CP to be anything other than a irritating, uncomfortable illness.

However since joining MN I have discovered there is a high risk it could develop into a 'life-threatening' condition likely to leave your child 'disfigured'. When did that become a thing? I'm wondering if there has been an increase in children being hospitalised with it since I was a child. However the NHS site still states it is a mild illness for almost all children so I don't think that is the case.

PCohle · 13/07/2019 13:13

As others have pointed out it's because posters who have had bad experiences with chickenpox are drawn to threads like these.

Chickenpox is, in the vast majority of cases, a mild illness with no long term consequences.

Rubbinghimsweetly2 · 13/07/2019 13:17

I never put my financial security before the health of my children, that is just batshit.

Either shit or get off the pot, honestly all this umming and ahhing is a bit ridiculous.

Protect your child and look after their health, this is your number 1 priority.

NeurotrashWarrior · 13/07/2019 13:21

Increase in shingles was one result I was told of a vaccination programme and one reason why the nhs shouldn't add it.

From the geek father blog post.

NeurotrashWarrior · 13/07/2019 13:22

If you’ve had chickenpox, every time you come into contact with someone else with chickenpox, not only does the immune system remember it (so you don’t get chickenpox again) but it gives your immune system a little boost. It appears that this regular contact with chickenpox throughout life helps keep shingles at bay – one study suggests adults who live with kids (e.g. their children or grandchildren) have a 25% lower risk of developing shingles in their lifetimee*.

That's how I had it explained to me.

Esto · 13/07/2019 13:24

So parents who take their child to get every NHS vaccine on schedule are anti-vaxxers and shouldn't be parents if they don't pay privately for the CP vaccine, of which the longevity is unknown?

FUCKING BATSHIT THREAD

ArchMemory · 13/07/2019 13:25

Not sure I should be reading this thread when my 3yo woke up with chicken pox yesterday!

We were discussing getting him vaccinated but clearly hadn’t got round to it ...

His older brother had it a few years ago and wasn’t too bad with it. His younger brother seems to have quite a lot of spots including one on his willy and one next to his eye. Hope he hasn’t got any in his mouth. Poor thing.

Hmmmwhatwouldyoudo · 13/07/2019 13:36

A few people have mentioned shingles as a possibility after having had CP. I will add “Ramsay Hunt Syndrome” to the list. It is where the CP virus that has lain dormant, affects facial muscles. I had never heard of it before until a relative got it. You look like you have had a stroke as it causes facial palsy. It’s really painful and can affect your hearing and eyes. She couldn’t close her eye on that side at all. She was off work for months and had a lot of physio. Now needs a hearing aid.
Get the vaccine.

callmeadoctor · 13/07/2019 13:45

My child had CP at 12 months and was really poorly. However, she recovered well. Unfortunately she has scarring, if I could have vaccinated against it to just avoid the scarring, then I would have done.