AIBU to take child with chicken pox to an outside event today?

[summerlovingvibes]

Husband has one opinion and I have another. WWYD?

Day 5 of chicken pox for oldest child.
I have 2 other younger children with no signs as yet. But neither have had in the past so probably will get it.

Some scabs starting to form but also still some fresh spots.

Today is booked to go to an outside running event (for kids) this afternoon and we have paid £60 total for this with all children. It was booked mainly for the oldest one who loves to run, but the younger ones will also come and enjoy so I had to buy tickets for all. Outside run with parents, refreshments, few little stalls etc.

Unfortunately oldest one knows about event and has been excited all week - told him about it 2 days before CP started so didn't know to withhold the info.

Would you still take him? Planning on going just for the run, will try to avoid being too close to others. Don't know any other children / parents going so not going to be "chit chatting". Won't go to the stalls / mix and mingle. Will do run then leave.

Husband has one opinion and I have another. WWYD?

That would be even worse than taking the eldest. They're probably incubating it!

Just no!

My youngest was really, really sick with chicken pox. My DH in his late 30s caught it from eldest two and it was brutal.

Seriously?
You said it was impossible to not get chickenpox.

The vast majority of unvaccinated people will get chickenpox, yes. It’s very contagious. Vaccinated people have been given a weakened version of the virus.

97% or 98% does not equal 100%.
A small minority won’t succumb.

Thinking of the person currently in charge of US health that could well change very soon

I think it’s 65 now? Younger if immunocompromised.

You can pay for it if you want it earlier though.

I think the people who need to "check their privilege" are the parents who didn't bother getting their children vaccinated despite being able to waste £60 on running, which is a completely free activity, then want to take their poxy child anyway.

Except they're likely to be brewing it right now...

You can't go, one is probably still infectious and the others are likely just waiting for spots to appear (also infectious).

People who can't afford the vaccine are unlikely to be booking holidays or theatre trips.

And it'll take a while on minimum wage (likely already spoken for) to save up or recoup the £150

Seriously, is MN totally made up of middle-class professionals?

My mum had three of us with chicken pox. Not funny. Dad well he was missing of course. Same with every childhood ailment.

I'll be honest, "panicked herself into having shingles" is not a phrase I'd ever heard before reading this thread

I couldn't get it till 70. They moved the goalposts

But it's earlier in London as you said

I would go
its not a party or soft play , its outside, I’d keep 2 meters away from everyone and not touch anything
so I’d bring all our own snacks and sanitizer for hands
if you are likely to die if you catch chicken pox are you unlikely to be at a kids event.
you need physical constancy to pass it on

brief the kids to keep their distance and not touch anyone

your youngest kids would be at school this week iso what’s the difference?

They likely have about 7 more days, it's 14 days on average before spots come, with 2 days before being infectious. But can be up to 21 days. You can't keep children inside for a month after exposure (including the week with it).
There's no guarantee they will even catch it. Our DC2 didn't catch it from DC1 and got it 2 years later instead despite close contact.

You can’t take him.
one parent takes smallest two and other stays home with the eldest.
its disappointing for him but its the way it is.

The smallest two can go if no signs of Cp. They may or may not get it, there is no way of knowing.

This is how I got chicken pox at the age of 25 - a young primary school teacher at the time. One of the mums decided it would be a shame for her kid to miss school. I spent two weeks in bed with a fever, feeling like I was going to die. (Chicken pox hits adults way harder than kids).

If he's scabbed up then I'd take them all. If he's still got blisters then just the younger 2.
Ridiculous that anyone is expecting the siblings to stay inside for the 2 week incubation period as well as the week of it. Schools wouldn't accept 2 weeks off for potentially being due to start with chickenpox.

Surely you knew you would catch it at some point? It goes round classes most years in infants.

This is the eligibility criteria for the NHS Shingrix vaccination (which is two doses):

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/

Shingles vaccine
The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It's recommended for all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

From 1 September 2023, you're eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 65.

You'll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.

Your GP should contact you to make an appointment to have your shingles vaccine. Contact your GP surgery if you think you're eligible for the shingles vaccine and you've not been contacted about it.

You'll remain eligible until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday).

If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, you'll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.

Everyone aged 70 to 79 is eligible for the shingles vaccine.

You'll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.

Contact your GP surgery if you missed your vaccine. You're eligible up until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday).

You're eligible for the shingles vaccine if you're aged 50 or over and you're at higher risk from shingles because you have a severely weakened immune system.

This includes:

• some people with blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
• some people with HIV or AIDS
• some people who've recently had a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or an organ transplant
• people taking certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system

You'll be given 2 doses of the shingles vaccine. These are given between 8 weeks and 6 months apart.

Ask your GP or care team if you're not sure if you're eligible for the shingles vaccine.

I thought it was only old people but both my oldest two have had shingles. One was 11. He still has the scars and the other was one 8. Oldest one was poorly younger one wasn’t at all. Then I had it at age 30. Not poorly but painful.

This is optional though. I think it’s only the older child who seems to be competing anyway, it’s their hobby/interest. Their siblings going would likely make them feel worse in this case?

All of mine are 🤷‍♀️ it’s a fair question

Please don't go x
Chicken pox can be deadly for some or women who are pregnant and have not had it yet

Hello OP, please don't take your child out to anywhere where there are people until ALL spots are healed over.

I'm currently sitting in a hospital with my 18 year old, who is having to endure yet another endoscopy and colonoscopy.

He caught chicken pox when he was 8, and he was left with a life long (Colitis) and now potentially life shortening( PSC liver ) disease DIRECTLY as a result.

As someone above has posted, it's potentially another person's severe illness and or death.

Again, as I've said before: If I make it my life's work to get the message out - PLEASE keep the chickenpox contained.

Silly comments asking why the children haven't been vaccinated for chicken pox.

Very few people use private healthcare in the UK.
The NHS doesn't recommend/provide chicken pox vaccines so of course most families are not getting the vaccine privately. Most people probably don't even know it's an option.
I've never met anyone who's had their child vaccinated against chicken pox in this country.

Unfortunately, I think you do have to cancel. Chickenpox is very infectious; even outside, especially for the length of time your child would be there. And, even if no one has serious complications, you could be costing some other families more than the £60, in terms of cancelled holidays, unpaid leave from work, etc; as well as physical discomfort. Can you get at least a partial refund?