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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Chicken pox vaccine

99 replies

dalel · 20/07/2022 12:08

Hi I'm new and been seeing a few post on the chicken pox vaccine.

Thinking of getting my daughter vaccinated against it. It is going round her nursery at the moment so more than likely she is going to get it anytime now.

Whenever she's Ill with anything it really does affect her bad.

Would you advise me getting got her?
What are the pros and cons?
Is it worth it?

I'm really in 2 minds

OP posts:
Sapphirejane · 20/07/2022 22:09

We paid, I read as much reputable information I could find and spoke to as many medical professionals I could informally and could see no cons bar the cost. I did not find the NHS reasoning persuasive at all, especially when other countries do give it as standard. DC didn’t have any side effects at all and so far has been fine when it is all over nursery. We were warned they might need a booster as an adult but we will happily pay for that if they want it as it was our choice to do this.

Also it’s not a choice between vaccine or getting immunity from the virus. They may never catch chicken pox as a child, and would be even worse if they caught it as an adult.

Kfjsjdbd · 20/07/2022 22:12

My friend is a doctor who didn’t get the vaccine for her daughter, who then caught chicken pox twice (I know, so unusual!). she had to have a total of 4 weeks off work and so got her next child vaccinated.

My DD caught it before we could vaccinate her and she was so poorly. I really would go for the vaccine if you can afford it.

DearieMeWhatsUp · 20/07/2022 22:39

I had my child vaccinated. It's gone through her nursery a few times and no issues

So glad we had it done. It can have serious complications and preventing people from building up immunity as a side benefit wasn't a good reason for me to not protect my kid. They worry that if they introduce the jab, a lack of take up on a population level will mean more people don't catch chicken pox as a child but get it when they are adults so more serious. Again, not my issue. It will be on the routine schedule eventually.

Everydayimhuffling · 20/07/2022 22:47

I am really glad to have done it. It's a routine childhood vaccination in most places, and the reason the NHS doesn't has to do with speculative population wide protection against shingles. There really don't seem to be many downsides for the children concerned. In addition, a recent chickenpox infection can cause worse reactions with some other childhood diseases like scarlet fever which is inexplicably rife in my area at the moment. So extra reason to be glad to have done it.

RewildingAmbridge · 20/07/2022 22:50

We've vaccinated DA, both DNs have had it terribly recently very very unwell, one ended up in hospital. Very glad we did

TwoShades1 · 20/07/2022 23:18

I’m in Australia and it’s one of our routine vaccines here covered by the government. They have one dose which means they are prevented from getting serious complications from the disease and you can pay privately for a second dose which means they won’t get it at all.

nolongersurprised · 20/07/2022 23:43

We’re in Australia but DH and I come from countries where it’s not on the schedule. It came in a year before my oldest DD was born.

We actually talked to someone at work who was a paeds infectious diseases consultant who also wasn’t native to Australia. Our worry was that they’d have partial immunity and get it properly for the first time in the second trimester of pregnancy where it’s a Really Bad Thing.

He said a booster would cover it, and that checking antibody levels as teens would be useful, if they ever had tests for anything else.

16 years on and 3 further children later, all of my angst just seems a bit self-indulgent.

None of them have had Chicken pox, none of their friends and class mates have had chicken pox, there hasn’t been an epidemic of shingles in adults.

strandedabroad · 21/07/2022 00:01

I got my 3 done. Such a relief every time there's a new outbreak at school.

I don't understand the NHS point of view re shingles. The rest of the (at least Western/first) world offers it routinely. Somehow the UK goes against the grain and allows children to catch and spread what can be a dangerous disease for some, and completely preventable! Not to mention the disruption, discomfort etc, even for mild cases. It's madness, and surely entirely cost related?

Only con was the cost. Book your DC in asap if you decide to do it and they might escape the current wave.

1dayatatime · 21/07/2022 00:02

DS1 was hospitalised with CP and it was a truly horrible and scary experience.

All I can say is if you can afford the CP vaccine please please get it done.

Namechanger355 · 21/07/2022 00:07

we got our dd vaccinated and she avoided catching it during the recent nursery outbreak

im also pregnant so more nervous about being around it - although I am vaccinated too

the concern about CP vaccinations in the uk seems to be about how long it lasts for compared to catching it - potentially leaving adults susceptible to catching it in future or even shingles (and cp tends to be worse for adults). but I think this will be dealt with in future in that case - eg presumably can just get a booster

also less cp being around reduces immunity from shingles for vulnerable/older people - although older people can get vaccines anyway

so the benefit in protecting your child now is clear

disconnected1 · 21/07/2022 00:32

This was dd aged 5, her whole body was covered like this, even having spots in ears, nose and throat. She was getting fresh spots for 7 days and now has quite a few scars. She also had a temperature of 40 which I struggled to get down.

I wish I had of paid for the vaccine, unfortunately I wasn't aware of it until afterwards.

hesaka · 21/07/2022 00:38

My youngest (age 5) was vaccinated as a baby with two doses but had a breakthrough infection recently. However, it was very, very mild - less than 10 spots in total on legs/tummy. The spots didn’t blister and there was hardly any itching. I expect it would not have been as mild without the vaccine so I still think it was worth getting vaccinated.

toohottohandlebar · 21/07/2022 01:19

Got my little ones done earlier this week. I was warned they might experience side effects such as a sore arm or fever, etc. luckily nothing so far. Reasons for having it done: chicken pox can start off 'Mild' but can easily lead to complications, the thought of my children having something really unpleasant that makes them incredibly uncomfortable that could have been prevented doesn't sit right with me, me and my husband work so the thought of us taking time off work to nurse poorly children didn't really appeal to me! There's currently a national shortage of the vaccine according to the boots pharmacist I spoke to and Boots are currently all out of vaccines. They're currently only booking in appointments from the 8th of August but I was told they're not sure if they'll have vaccines in time for then. Just a heads up.

CatsandDogs22 · 21/07/2022 01:59

It breaks my brain that it still isn’t on the vaccine schedule in the UK. The theory about protecting adults from shingles has been disproven over and over again in the many countries that do, and have for years, vaccinate their children against chicken pox.

Frankly even if it was the case, why would you wish the same scenario on your own children when it is fully preventable? Shingles is nasty but adult chicken pox is even worse.

And even those of us who had it young and didn’t get complications still often end up with scars. I have one on my leg, my sister has one on her face. My husband had painful shingles 2 months ago - the doctors were very clear it was because his immune system is down at the moment (thanks COVID) and it was already in his system from childhood. Nothing to do with anybody else.

And there is still just no way he would choose to put our kids through chicken pox on the off chance it would have helped him. Luckily we live in Australia anyway so our kids are all fully immunised anyway.

Original poster
dalel · 21/07/2022 06:37

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I went ahead and got her vaccinated yesterday. It did cost me £95 for the first dose!

I really hope I've done it in time. One of her close friends at nursery who she's with 5 days a week started with her first spot Tuesday and another 5/6 yesterday. Really hope she doesn't get it.

Friends mum didn't realise it was chicken pox so sent her to nursery those 2 days. Luckily nursery noticed the spots yesterday and sent her home.

OP posts:
Sapphirejane · 21/07/2022 07:19

You’ve done the right thing Op, the CDC in the US recommend getting the vaccine within 5 days of exposure so even if your DD does get chicken pox the vaccine should provide a level of protection to make it more mild.

Original poster
dalel · 21/07/2022 07:40

Sapphirejane · 21/07/2022 07:19

You’ve done the right thing Op, the CDC in the US recommend getting the vaccine within 5 days of exposure so even if your DD does get chicken pox the vaccine should provide a level of protection to make it more mild.

I really hope so. She's only a tiny girl and every cough and cold she gets really gets to her. So hoping If she does get it she will be fine

OP posts:
nolongersurprised · 21/07/2022 08:13

hesaka · 21/07/2022 00:38

My youngest (age 5) was vaccinated as a baby with two doses but had a breakthrough infection recently. However, it was very, very mild - less than 10 spots in total on legs/tummy. The spots didn’t blister and there was hardly any itching. I expect it would not have been as mild without the vaccine so I still think it was worth getting vaccinated.

My second DD got chicken pox from the vaccine but it was incredibly mild, just 4 spots on her forehead, near the hairline. They didn’t blister either

TheGlitterFairy · 21/07/2022 08:17

I’ll be getting DS vaccinated and had the vaccination as an adult as I’d not had it as a child and didn’t want pregnancy complications. As others have said it’s a horrible illness that can go wrong.

Slight derailment but does anyone know how long you should wait between the 12 month vaccinations to have this done? DS had them a month ago….

DappledThings · 21/07/2022 08:29

I've never given much thought to any vaccine beyond the NHS schedule. Pretty much let JCVI and the NHS decide for me. So I never did it. But if it had been added to the standard schedule I would have gone and got it done as standard.

ItsSnowJokes · 21/07/2022 08:35

cptartapp · 20/07/2022 21:16

You have to be between 70 and 80.

Show quote history

Thats only on the nhs, it's an expensive vaccine and they have targeted the most at risk age group. It is licenced and available over the age of 50 for a private vaccine. I have had shingles and when I hit 50 I am paying to have the jab as shingles is just horrible.

Shoopshoopshoopshoopshoop · 21/07/2022 09:50

TheGlitterFairy · 21/07/2022 08:17

I’ll be getting DS vaccinated and had the vaccination as an adult as I’d not had it as a child and didn’t want pregnancy complications. As others have said it’s a horrible illness that can go wrong.

Slight derailment but does anyone know how long you should wait between the 12 month vaccinations to have this done? DS had them a month ago….

It’s 4 weeks from the MMR

TheGlitterFairy · 21/07/2022 11:44

@Shoopshoopshoopshoopshoop thanks

TheMagicDeckchair · 21/07/2022 12:17

TheGlitterFairy · 21/07/2022 08:17

I’ll be getting DS vaccinated and had the vaccination as an adult as I’d not had it as a child and didn’t want pregnancy complications. As others have said it’s a horrible illness that can go wrong.

Slight derailment but does anyone know how long you should wait between the 12 month vaccinations to have this done? DS had them a month ago….

Nurse advised me 6 weeks after the MMR.

MayMoveMayNot · 21/07/2022 12:27

My DD was vaccinated, we live in the UK, however we had done through the NHS due to circumstances. Bloody glad she did as CP has done the rounds several times at school and skipped her each time.