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Original poster

To worry my 8 year old hasn’t had chickenpox?

167 replies

Wannakisstheteacher · 12/10/2021 20:05

Talking to a friend today reminded me DS3 hasn’t had chickenpox. His elder siblings had it before he was born. Is this something I should worry about, or maybe pay to have him vaccinated against now as he’s unlikely to catch it at this point? Having asked a few other friends DS is the only one not to have had it 😱

OP posts:
Ohyou · 13/10/2021 09:14

I didn't even know there was a vaccine! I'm 34 and my sister and I have never had chicken pox even as children but all our children have had it. We used to go to 'chicken pox parties' but just never seemed to catch it. Surprised I've never heard of this.

Frazzled2207 · 13/10/2021 09:16

@Ohyou

I didn't even know there was a vaccine! I'm 34 and my sister and I have never had chicken pox even as children but all our children have had it. We used to go to 'chicken pox parties' but just never seemed to catch it. Surprised I've never heard of this.
everyone in the US and most of europe gets it as part of their usual childhood vaccinations. For some reason it has never been included here. Like with the current teenagers with covid policy it seems to be the preferred option for people to get it naturally
Siameasy · 13/10/2021 09:16

I had it as a teen. It was very unpleasant I think I was off school for 3 weeks. Since a vaccine is available you may as well get it

nousernamehere01 · 13/10/2021 09:16

I had chicken pox through school when I was in year 3/4, that was around about 2003 so I remember loads of people were actually still sending their kids around to see the sick ones specifically so they would catch it in childhood!

As lots of other people say it is very likely to rip through schools this year so I'd hold off on the vaccine personally, plus the NHS website heavily implies you shouldn't get your kids vaccinated as it's just not as effective at protecting you through adulthood.

My mum had actually never had chickenpox as a child and she was sick for about 3 months when we had ours over in a week or so

Willyoujustbequiet · 13/10/2021 09:26

@CharleyMarley and @MRex

I came into close contact with a colleague who had it whilst I was pregnant. NHS checked and discovered I had no immunity. After my pregnancy they offered me the vaccine so I'd be protected in any future pregnancies.

I caught it from DD at nursery. I was mid thirties so it was pretty unpleasant but I honestly have no idea whether it would have been even worse. No scars anyway.

I would recommend the vaccine but people need to be aware it won't necessarily prevent it. I guess I'm in that 10%.

MRex · 13/10/2021 09:26

I don't understand "it's expensive" arguments. If your kid gets chickenpox you will be up for at least a week off work, versus £110 at the GP. I imagine that most people earn much more than that in a week.

Livpool · 13/10/2021 09:28

Are you sure he hasn't had it? My mum was sure I hadn't had it but after DS caught it (and had relatively mild symptoms) apparently I had caught it as a child. I assume I had even more mild symptoms than DS

CharleyMarley · 13/10/2021 09:33

@Willyoujustbequiet

That must have been horrific for you!

If you're planning more kids I wonder if you should ask for an antibody check as if the vaccine didn't give immunity, perhaps you still don't have it. One would hope so if you've had the vaccine AND chickenpox. But my friend has chickenpox twice and still isn't immune.

Jakie7700 · 13/10/2021 09:41

No the vaccine does not only last 10 years get your facts correct! Australia,US and parts of EU all vaccinate as part of the childhood vaccinations and have been for years. The only reason people seen to think immunity only lasts that long is as the vaccines have only been used 20+ years there is no long term data but all evidence shows immunity is still high after this time. Although some countries do recommend a booster later on just to be sure.
Why on earth would anyone these days purposely expose their children to chicken pox? You do realise many children each year get very unwell from it and a small number even die from complications of the virus?

JassyRadlett · 13/10/2021 09:41

the NHS website heavily implies you shouldn't get your kids vaccinated as it's just not as effective at protecting you through adulthood.

The NHS website is shockingly mendacious on the varicella vaccine.

There’s no current evidence to support that statement, any more than there is for the ‘it protects older people from shingles’ theory they still peddle.

Even if there was, we still give mumps and whooping cough vaccines to small children, even though there is much stronger evidence of waning protection than there is for chicken pox vaccine.

It’s particularly shocking when they know that being vaccinated later offers less protection.

Beachbreak2411 · 13/10/2021 09:44

My daughter is 10 and never had chicken pox; every time it did the rounds when she was younger I hoped she’d catch it and get it out the way. Never did despite spending lots of time with children with it.

JassyRadlett · 13/10/2021 09:44

[quote Willyoujustbequiet]**@CharleyMarley* and @MRex*

I came into close contact with a colleague who had it whilst I was pregnant. NHS checked and discovered I had no immunity. After my pregnancy they offered me the vaccine so I'd be protected in any future pregnancies.

I caught it from DD at nursery. I was mid thirties so it was pretty unpleasant but I honestly have no idea whether it would have been even worse. No scars anyway.

I would recommend the vaccine but people need to be aware it won't necessarily prevent it. I guess I'm in that 10%.[/quote]
Unfortunately it’s only about 75% effective when given in teens and adulthood, versus well over 90% (97-99%) with two doses earlier in childhood.

YukoandHiro · 13/10/2021 09:46

My four year old hasn't had it and can't get the vaccine as she has anaphalaxis to eggs.

I've tried hard to find people who have it so she can catch it, but so many people immunise now it's never going round

SVRT19674 · 13/10/2021 09:56

I caught it from a friend when I was ten, had mildish symptoms but have suffered from shingles as an adult. Even way worse from the adult shingles, so painful. My daughter was vaccinated some time ago, as it is in the ordinary vaccination calendar for Spain.

Baker90 · 13/10/2021 09:58

Both myself and my sisters have never had it and are all adults now despite being around it a lot as kids. I'm 30 now.
I was exposed to shingles unknowingly while pregnant a couple of years back. So panicky contact with doctors/midwife they actually tested me and I had a high immunity level. Some people do naturally have immunity albeit being unusual. Like others, I wouldn't worry too much until he's a bit older.

danni0509 · 13/10/2021 10:13

My nearly 8 year old hasn’t had chicken pox yet either.

campion · 13/10/2021 10:14

@Beachbreak2411

My daughter is 10 and never had chicken pox; every time it did the rounds when she was younger I hoped she’d catch it and get it out the way. Never did despite spending lots of time with children with it.
Why not get her tested for antibodies? If she's immune, fine;if not give her the vaccine now as it'll be more effective.

Never assume she's immune just because she hasn't caught it yet.
I thought that applied to me until I got it badly as an adult. It can be serious, even dangerous.
Just because the NHS has a laissez faire attitude to the vaccine doesn't mean you shouldn't get it - that's more to do with saving money.

MarshaBradyo · 13/10/2021 10:17

Neither has my 11 year old

I’ve booked the vaccine - which keeps getting bumped but will be soon now

Beachbreak2411 · 13/10/2021 10:32

How do I go about getting her tested for antibodies? That sounds good idea; I never have thought she is immune; just not caught them yet. Have been looking into the vaccine, think we will prob end up getting that done. I’ve had shingles a couple of times and I so don’t want her being that poorly!!!

campion · 13/10/2021 10:49

@Beachbreak2411
I'd imagine your GP is the one to ask, either to offer it or point you in the right direction - depending on how easy it is to get through of course!

Frazzled2207 · 13/10/2021 12:41

@Beachbreak2411

How do I go about getting her tested for antibodies? That sounds good idea; I never have thought she is immune; just not caught them yet. Have been looking into the vaccine, think we will prob end up getting that done. I’ve had shingles a couple of times and I so don’t want her being that poorly!!!
Gp organised this no problem as an anxious pg mum of a toddler. Doubt they would do unless a specific reason though. Privately probably possible.
ouchmyfeet · 13/10/2021 14:23

@Beachbreak2411

How do I go about getting her tested for antibodies? That sounds good idea; I never have thought she is immune; just not caught them yet. Have been looking into the vaccine, think we will prob end up getting that done. I’ve had shingles a couple of times and I so don’t want her being that poorly!!!
@Beachbreak2411 my GP tested my DS
ouchmyfeet · 13/10/2021 14:25

Just to say there was no anxiety or other concern when I asked. I sought GP advice as I was about to pay for a private vaccination as he was reaching the age it is recommended (before puberty). She suggested we do a simple blood test first to potentially avoid the expense of a vaccination, it seemed perfectly standard.

Mypathtriedtokillme · 13/10/2021 14:40

It’s part of the Australian and NZ childhood vax schedule as well.

Both of my sisters have had shingles in their 20’s and 30’s when having high stress at work. It’s incredibly painful.

bringonyourwreckingball · 13/10/2021 14:46

I was 23 when I got chickenpox and it honestly wasn’t that bad.

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