DCs haven't had chicken pox. Nor has our nanny. I accept the dcs will catch it at some point, and I'm not particularly worried about that (though I know in some children it can be nasty). But I am worried about our nanny catching it. It can be very nasty in adults and I would feel very bad if she caught it from my children and suffered any complications (although it wouldn?t be their fault, obviously, but you can see what I mean).
We have agreed when we discussed it once before (when I thought they had been exposed and might catch it) that at the first sign of pox we?d make alternative childcare arrangements until they were better so she wouldn?t be looking after them. Then they didn?t catch it and I forgot all about it.
But one of my colleagues has just rung to say she can?t come in because her ds has chicken pox and it made me think about it again. Is it fair or realistic to ask our nanny if she would have the vaccination? We?d pay for her to have it done privately, and I'd give her time off during her working week to get it done. Partly it?s to protect her but it is also a selfish thing from my perspective, as I?d really much rather not have to find alternative childcare if they did catch it. With 3 children, that could be weeks and weeks of not being able to work, which would be a disaster. My parents live on the other side of the world, and I can?t expect them to drop everything and fly over here because of the pox, and I wouldn?t feel comfortable with a temp nanny as I don?t think that?s fair on sick children.
I think the best thing would be to ask her whether she would be prepared to have it, for her own safety and for our convenience. But then I wonder if that?s a bit much to expect someone to do ? though I know she doesn?t have a fear of needles as she?s just come back from having a whole load of jabs ahead of going to Brazil next week!