To get my DD the chickenpox vaccine after possible exposure ?

[VentingPillowStuffing]

My 2 year old is at nursery 4 days a week. On her day off last week nursery got in touch to let me know that there'd been a few cases of chickenpox pop up in her room that day (her day off).

I've been thinking about getting her vaccinated for a while now, and the pharmacist said it's still worth doing to lessen the symptoms if she does now have it (it's been four days since nursery spoke to us and she is fine). However money is a bit tight, I would have to use some savings but thinking it's a worthwhile investment. On the other hand if she already is carrying it is there much point?

Apparently my brother and I had it very badly as children and i don't really want her to go through that if I can help it. If she comes out in spots today then yes I will ride it out but does anyone have any experience of vaccinating their LO after they've been exposed, is it worth it? She might not even have it but we won't be able to tell until she shows symptoms.

I wouldn't. Chickenpox is a fairly mild childhood infection and chickenpox parties were still a thing when I was growing up. I may well have been miserable when I had it as a child but I have zero memory of it so it was probably more traumatic for my parents than me.
Another thing I would be worried about is that vaccine is not 100% effective against chickenpox and contracting it as an adult has more risks. But, obviously, you've had a chat with the pharmacist who is far more qualified to advise.
The fact that it is not routinely available on the NHS would also suggest to me that it is not necessary.

Imo on a really basic level the cost of the vaccine vs the cost of not being able to work and still paying for nursery on top is a worthwhile cost.
Chickenpox parties are stupid. Few children have life long complications from CP but that doesn’t lessen the fact that it’s usually a pretty miserable experience for the whole family.
Would you have a flu party as an adult? With the 2 doses it’s 98% effective in children and is a routine vaccine in other countries.

We got my son vaccinated post exposure at the end of three. He was heavily exposed m to one other child who was playing with, stroking him and hand feeding him sweets in the waiting area of a walk in centre. After about 30 mins the parents revealed they were in as kid had chicken pox - utter idiots. We’d been considering vaccinating anyway and had an expensive holiday booked in two weeks so got him done two days after exposure. He didn’t get CP and hasn’t since (nearly nine).

Personally, I’d get her vaccinated anyway. You can almost guarantee that chickenpox will rear its spotty head just before you’re due to go on holiday, or before some big family event like a wedding. And even if you’re not specially doing anything, if you have more than one child who get it one after the other, that will mean weeks of not being able to take them swimming or to anything like soft play etc.

I got my som vaccinated as I am immunosuppressed, and would have had to isolate from him for weeks if he caught it.

He also suffered quite badly with RSV/bronchitis as a baby, and was hospitalised at least three times. We couldn't face any more serious illnesses, even though I know it rarely gets that bad.

I have had zero regrets, and he never caught it, despite being exposed multiple times.

Got my eldest vaccinated after exposure and it prevented her getting it. Separately, my youngest caught it before having the vaccine and was miserable and I had to take a week off work to look after her. So well worth it imo.

If money is tight, no I wouldn’t unless it means unpaid time off. Much better that your dc has a nice summer without parents who are stressed about finances than gets a common and generally mild childhood illness. Yes, I know it can be serious in some children, I get that. But it’s not in most children. It was an annoying week, but no more than that.

That said, when dd was in nursery, 20 of 25 children were at one point out with chicken pox. She didn’t get it. Got it about a year later when it came around again.

I think this is quite an outdated view, tbh. A recent report recommended the NHS gives chicken pox vaccination routinely, it will take time for it to come into effect/be funded etc.

My daughter sailed through chicken pox aged 6, my son aged 3 nearly died because he got strep a infection, then pneumonia and sepsis at the same time. Like you, I'd thought it was mild and just part of childhood. My son had cardiac arrest and could easily have died or been left brain damaged.

Even if your kid does get through it easily, it's still a week of them being covered in itchy sores and scans and having a temp. Most kids would get through mumps and measles but we don't make them any more.

Op, I'd ask pharmacist for more info on what jab can do, they might just want your money!

www.gov.uk/government/news/jcvi-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-in-childhood-immunisation-programme

I'm no immunologist, but I'm not sure if there is much point having a vaccine after exposure?

A vaccine just contains copies of the dead virus so your immune system can create antibodies if it's ever exposed to the real thing

If she's been exposed, her body will be already creating antibodies to fight the virus, but the virus will likely make her ill whilst she does this (unlike if she's had the vaccine)

I'm not sure there's much point adding dead virus to live virus?