Strep A in nursery blanket antibiotics prescribed

[Madrid21]

I'm just after other parents opinions on a situation we are in regarding nursery. DS3 attends a private nursery 5 days a week (9-3pm). We have been aware of a number of cases of Strep A (scarlet fever) at the nursery but last night we received an email from nursery including letters from public health informing us that some children have had strep A and chicken pox (poor little things) and therefore all children at the nursery will be given (with consent) a chicken pox vacc and a full 10 day course of penicillin. DS has had chicken pox so will not need the vaccination but I'm wondering how on earth they will manage to give the medicine (also obviously needing fridge space!) practically it would be a nightmare surely as it's quite a big nursery, I'm happy for him to have it but as he's well I'm wondering what other parents would do in this situation, I also have DP to consider as he's been under a lot of stress lately and even simple colds have been making him poorly for weeks. AIBU to keep him home until this has all died down? Or just send him in on Monday and wait to see what happens? It would make things difficult if he was home but we are both self employed so could make it work.

I'm not sure I'd be happy about my child having a course of antibiotics if he's well and doesn't need it. I've never heard of a nursery doing this, is that normal procedure? Could you speak to your GP about it? To be honest, I'd be more likely to keep him home and work around it instead.

Thank you, that's my opinion too, I've been reading the guidelines and it looks like one of the few occasions that they prescribe them is where chicken pox is involved. I also don't particularly want him to have unnecessary antibiotics. Someone from public health is ringing all of the parents on Monday to sort out prescriptions so I can discuss it with them. My gut feeling is he doesn't need them as he's had chicken pox, but at the same time don't want to put other children at risk if they haven't had it.

This says pre-emptive antibiotics is not routine but might be recommended by public health in certain circumstances - it also says chicken pox and strep A together can be more serious so that’s probably why.
But if your child has had chicken pox, then it sounds he wouldn’t be at risk from having them both together which is good.
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know/