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?

My child is but is one of about 2-3 in his nursery class of 30 to have been. I did it after meeting a couple on holiday who had had an absolute shocker - Disney, trapped in a hotel room, couldn’t go to Disney, had to extend accommodation as couldn’t fly, new flights ect ect. It was expensive but for one was ok but more than one child is pretty expensive!

I know a 6y with it at the moment.
She’s apparently in some discomfort - painful and making her feel quite miserable. Poor child.

how selfish. Seriously - read the message again, you want to take a few infectious children to a busy event? What about babies too young to be vaccinated? What about people with compromised immune systems?

You’ve asked every single person you’ve ever met if they’ve vaccinated their kids against chicken pox?! Surely not.

Vast majority of kids I’ve known to get chicken pox have had it terribly and for weeks, and then their sibling comes down with it too, equally awfully and miserably. I’ve had many parents say to me ‘I see why you got yours vaxxed!’. It’s routine in most other countries.

My child has had chickenpox twice and both times she was extremely ill and was hospitalised. So I would suggest you stay at home and not go to the event.

Don’t go and don’t take the youngest ones either because they’re probably in incubation stage and contagious. It would be incredibly selfish.

It would always have been a risk, yes; especially as people can be infectious before symptoms develop. But that doesn't excuse the parent for sending her child to school with a KNOWN case, to give the illness to non-immune teachers as well as classmates, some of whom could have had, for example, pregnant mothers or immunocompromised siblings,

although super disappointing for your child, think you have to consider those who are more vulnerable like those with compromised immunity.
I caught chicken pox when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and ended up in intensive care for 2 weeks.

It's pretty obvious when children get chicken pox?
Shall I rephrase that as, I've never come across a child who has avoided chicken pox because they've been vaccinated or whose parent has told me they have been vaccinated, and having 3 children of my own in the last 15 years and working in childcare for 20+ years that's a large sample size.
Chicken pox vaccination just is not a normal thing here.

There’s no vaccine in the U.K. and for most children it’s a mid illness

Just because you’ve paid money for it is irrelevant.
The strong likelihood is all your kids are carrying it. Why would you even consider spreading it around?

Chicken pox vaccination just is not a normal thing here

Only because the NHS decided it wasn't cost effective (though I believe that is changing soon)

I am in a EU country and it is part of the standard vaccination schedule here. I haven't seen CP since I was a child in my native UK.

I am surprised that so few people know about the readily available vaccination. The UK and the NHS need to move into the 21st century, where suffering from an entirely preventable disease can be completely avoided.

I’ve never had chicken pox but I have immunity.

There is a vaccine available but you have to pay for it (mostly).

There is a vaccine in the UK. It is mentioned on every CP thread.

Just because the NHS doesn't administer it, doesn't mean there isn't one.

It also isn't a mild illness for some, hence the vaccine.

That’s insane, of course you can’t go and you sound really entitled you comfortable standing next to a pregnant woman there?

You know that parents and children can be immunocompromised too? Or a friend that’s gone to support or a grandparent maybe
how can the child stay 2m away from everyone lining up at the start?

I’ve posted this before but I was living perfectly normally except for a lot of infections until one day I had blood tests. A GP looked at my results and I got a call after hours to ask where I was (going out for a meal) and told to go to hospital. I was 32
I walked in to everyone masked up (pre covid) to be told I had virtually no white blood cells

Now I have to inject myself with a drug that causes me horrific side effects - I shake uncontrollably, have a fever, flu symptoms, headache and excruciating bone pain every single weekend just to keep my white cells vaguely up

Then spend my time explaining that no I’m not on chemo, I don’t have cancer but yes I am neutropenic and it’s exactly the same as someone on chemo
Then reading on here that vulnerable shouldn’t be at certain places when this condition is LIFELONG and that someone with chicken pox can’t possibly stay home for a week but I should stay home.. for life?

Of course you don’t go. At least one of your DC will be contagious. Why would you want to risk giving it to someone vulnerable? It’s just tough luck, I’m afraid.

For all those saying get vaccinated, I was told not to by the doctor. It’s only recommended once a child is approx 6 as the outcome is worse. They said that they don’t think vaccination gives the same level of protection as having it.

It’s routinely given in the States though and they give the first dose at 12 -15 months. Second aged 4 - 6 I think.

So why would they start giving it from 12 months if your doctor is correct?

Easter holidays...?

Was this by a GP or a paediatrician?

I have paediatricians in my family, all kids were vaccinated against CP.

Don't be daft. Of course you don't go. You don't get to decide who catches your kids diseases. But you do get to decide not to expose others to risk. Do the right thing.

Is it true immunity that the medical community doesn't understand, like people who can't get COVID no matter how many times they're exposed? (That is not a sarcastic question, I just find it interesting when some people react - or not - so far out of current expectations.)

I really would recommend the chicken pox vaccine if you have any more children, it alleviates so much worry and stress about this! It was well worth the £150 imo, we’ve had our little boy vaccinated and we’ll be getting our little girl vaccinated when she’s born and old enough as well