To get ds vaccinated for chickenpox after exposure.

[Sarah24x]

Hi all, looking for some advice.

About 10 kids in ds1 class and some of his close friends in the other class of the year (reception) have confirmed chickenpox. First one was on Thursday.

I noticed one small spot on ds arm on Friday evening but it disappeared and no more have came up. He’s had a cough the past few days.

I’m wondering if there’s any point getting both my ds vaccinated privately as ds1 has an expensive holiday with his dad booked for 2 weeks time? I’m also worried for my youngest ds as he’s been referred for immunology testing due to recurrent infections, multiple antibiotics and has had 2 hospital admissions since summer. He also has eczema and is terrible for scratching.

Would it still work if they’ve already been exposed but haven’t had the spots come up yet?

Any advice appreciated!

Yep I definitely would - we had a big family holiday booked when DS was 5, and 4 days before we were due to go he was exposed to CP at school. I managed to get him vaccinated within 48 hrs and he didn't get it. If you're able to get it on the NHS then you've got nothing to lose (we had to pay privately as was a few years ago). I did read at the time that if you vaccinate within a couple of days of exposure, then the symptoms are likely to be a lot milder if they do catch it.

@Mynicename thanks for the reply 😊 I’m going to see if I can get them done today privately. Is it 48 hours after the other childrens spots have came out that it’s best to get done? I think there was on child in ds1 class had it the week prior so he’ll have been exposed for over a week. 😩

It sounds like it’s probably a bit late for the older one due to timing of exposure, but you’ve got nothing to lose (other than the money, as you won’t get it today on the NHS). I’d certainly be paying to get the younger one vaccinated asap before his brother exposes him though, assuming he’s over 1.

@modgepodge great thanks. The earliest I can find is for tomorrow so will book him in. 😊

There’s no point for the older, exposed one now, unless you just want to do it anyway, which is fair enough. It’s needed in 2 doses 4-8 weeks apart. He’s already been exposed and your holiday is 2 weeks away. It’s sucks, but it is what it is.

My brother in law’s kid just got chickenpox last week and they were meant to be on holiday this week. They had to cancel and claim on insurance.

Thats what I’m thinking. My youngest has been exposed to some of the children who have it too (since last week but their spots only came up on Friday ) so I think it might be too late for both. 😥

Sorry to hear about BIL holiday!

I think maybe go ahead and vaccinate but be prepared for the worst. At least then you’ll know you did all you could and won’t wonder ‘what if’.

Kids are weird though. I have twins. One twin got it and the other twin never has, despite them being all over each other. Chickenpox-less twin has also been exposed multiple times at nursery and school.

Well ds1 has just had a load of spots appear tonight, think I’ve left it too late! 😩

@Sarah24x it might not be too late for your youngest if you're booked in for tomorrow. When DD caught chicken pox I got DS vaccinated a few days later as we were going away a fortnight later and was willing to try anything to prevent us from cancelling. He never came out in any spots or had any obvious signs of having it so the vaccine seemed to work for him.

I think if you get the vaccine within a few days of exposure, it makes it less bad even if they do get it. We did this, a friend came out with chickenpox the day after a playdate so our child was exposed (most contagious the couple of days before the spots) and our son got a mild case. Takes 2 weeks from exposure to get spots, so maybe pay to reschedule the holiday if that's possible?