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?

To be fair he’s less contagious now than someone walking around unknowingly with it.

You don't think some people have never caught it?

My 4 year old nephew is on immune suppressants and can't have the vaccine as its live.

Chicken pox could be absolutely deadly for him. He's relying on people like you to do the right thing...

Don't go.

Like his siblings you mean?

Of course they can’t go.

You can't take him if he is still getting new spots he is still infectious
Chicken pox can be dangerous to elderly people , pregnant women and people with reduced immunity. And it is very contagious too

There is also the risk that if the majority of children are vaccinated it will actually lead to an increase in shingles which seems to be kept at bat by frequent contact with the circulating virus. That’s why it’s not part of most countries vaccination schedule. We all make choices for our own children and need to make our own risk assessments but this is one whereby private vaccination can put others at risk. If a significant number of parent choose private vaccination there will be some reduction in circulating virus which will mean more people will avoid it in early childhood but contract it when they are older and it is more serious. https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox
i’m not saying at all parents shouldn’t vaccinate but it is not like the NHS vaccines where personal protection will almost always increase public protection.

Ridiculous to think that everything can be planned and saved for in real life. If money is an issue, then saving is an issue.

It was so obvious it would be the dad who thought they should go 🙄

Actually someone with shingles can give someone else Chicken pox but someone with chickenpox can't give someone shingles.

They do pick their times to get ill don't they! unfortunately there's also a good chance the other kids are contagious as well. Maybe a movie afternoon and some nice snacks will help with the disappointment for the kids but it would be very unreasonable to go.

Sort of what I was insinuating.

Its one thing taking your children out and exposing them to people at risk when you don't know they have it and another when you definitely know they have it.

I personally just can't understand why you're even considering it. There are people who are at a very high risk that you wouldn't even realise

Shingles isn't something that's caught.
And the youngest person I've known with it is 10 years old!

Yes I didn’t about CP vaccine before my eldest got it (aged around 22 months) but was all set to get my youngest it before starting school when he caught it beforehand. Like you say I figured it might end up cheaper than taking time off work!

It’s very unlikely you won’t get chickenpox, not impossible.

Yeah, I didn't know that actually. I just saw that from another PP here, that you can't catch it but it's the dormant virus that kicks off again 🫣 When I had it at 18yo, my mates were surprised as it is (was) seen as an old ppl's disease 😳

@Londontown12 People? Seriously? Get lost with that crap.

I'd chicken pox as a child but as an adult taking various immunosuppressive medications, it's a risk to be near someone with chicken pox. I thought I'd have some immunity but I guess I could get it again but with serious consequence. I've never been able to confirm this from GPs and pharmacists.

It's chickenpox, not smallpox. If he feels all right, take him.

Check my privilege? 🤣

I’ve done plenty of thinking and I stand by the fact that if you can’t afford £150 per child then you shouldn’t be having several of them.

Maybe you should do some thinking and wonder why you think it’s so outrageous to expect someone planning multiple children should be able to put aside a paltry £3.50 per week for the duration of their pregnancy for a potentially lifesaving vaccination.

Bet they manage to buy a Tesco meal deal or a tshirt from Primark 🤷🏽‍♀️

Of course some people haven’t had chicken pox……
Just like any other illness for that matter.

No! There are no mitigating circumstances

just don’t do it!

really inconsiderate

Absolutely not. A shame, but also a good lesson in thinking of others.

There is also the risk that if the majority of children are vaccinated it will actually lead to an increase in shingles which seems to be kept at bat by frequent contact with the circulating virus.

@Sleepinggreyhounds
That was the hypothesis, but in countries who do vaccinate it doesn’t seem to be working out like that. They’re not seeing the expected increase in shingles. And in fact the link you posted says exactly that!

From a 2023 paper -
The hypothesized increase in herpes zoster predicted from modelling of the exogenous boosting hypothesis was not observed.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31147680/

There are also vaccines to shingles available.