Would you vaccinate?

[Giraffe888]

My DH has got shingles, it started on Fri/Sat.

we have 2 young children who have never had chicken pox, and we go abroad in exactly 4 weeks.

Would you get them both vaccinated for chicken pox tomorrow? I can’t spend 4 weeks worrying about our holiday potentially being ruined or one of them becoming ill!

Yes, I probably would..no point in them being unwell if it can be avoided.

Yes.

In general I think the chicken pox vaccine is a good idea, but if the children have already been exposed via your husband then it won't prevent a breakout.

Yes, I got one of mine vaccinated at age 1.5 years when we were due to go away and they’d been in close contact with people with chicken pox.

8 years later, still no chicken pox and he’s been exposed via siblings and at school multiple times.

It can be given post-exposure.

That’s not true, the vaccine is effective for up to 5 days after exposure

@CulturalNomad it can still be effective after exposure

They have already been exposed for a few days though, even before his symptoms started. Plus you need two does of the vaccine to get full effectiveness. Seems pointless to me.

Just seen updates. In that case, yes I would

@IesuGrist1975 thats really reassuring to know, thank you!

It's only effective up to about 5 days after exposure so if you're going to do it you'll need to do it tomorrow - can you get it done that quickly?

The risk of them catching it from shingles is pretty low I think- it needs direct contact with the fluid from the blisters. That said, I’d still go for the vaccine because even if they swerve it this time they could get it from nursery right before your summer holiday or some other terribly inconvenient time. Also, because CP can be dangerous if you get it older they need to get immunity in childhood, and it’s at best just terribly unpleasant so if you can afford the vaccine and avoid them suffering with it then why wouldn’t you? There are no concerns with lasting immunity of safety- American have been vaccinating for something like 28 years and the JCVI has recommended it be introduced in the UK, these things just take time and then it’ll likely only be for babies and there won’t be a catch up programme for older kids. Just do the first dose ASAP as they can get a fever about 1-2 weeks afterwards and you don’t want that hitting whilst you’re away on holiday. Second dose will be when you get back.

@DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace yes I’ve booked it for tomorrow! Just thought I’d get some other opinions on whether I was doing the right thing (especially as it’s not cheap!)

@InTheRainOnATrain ive been debating doing it for a while but have kept putting it off (mainly because of cost), but this has given me the kick up the bum I needed. My son is at school so is getting older and still hasn’t had it. I know it can be really unpleasant and I’d rather they didn’t have to go through that

Generally I am in favour of the vaccine though. I was just saying you might need to be quick.

In that case yes I would

That’s not true, the vaccine is effective for up to 5 days after exposure

Aren't we at day 5 though? (That's assuming the children were actually exposed via the husband's shingles).

My son was vaccinated 25 years ago (I'm in the US). Never had chicken pox despite multiple exposures to both chicken pox and shingles. I highly recommend the vaccine; chicken pox can be so miserable!

@CulturalNomad he started with the rash very late on Saturday night. I’m going to go for it anyway, got nothing to lose!

Exactly nothing to lose and shingles is a bit different to CP as it’s only transmitted via the blister fluid so the chances of them being exposed are much less, and even if they have been then good chance it wasn’t on day 1 (if they were at school on Friday?!) so you might still be within the window. Fingers crossed anyway!

That’s my thought too. The blisters haven’t popped yet so no fluid has been exposed so if I vaccinate them tomorrow then I’m praying we’ll be ok!

To me the holiday is the least of it. If I'd known before having it how truly fucking awful shingles can be, I would have vaccinated my children against chicken pox when they were babies. I have no idea why it isn't part of the standard childhood immunisation schedule in this country. That virus is like a time bomb. Do it, OP.

Yes but be aware they could still get it and you may not be allowed to fly.

I had the jab x 2 and still got it the following year.