Chickenpox - have been advised to make my children get it....

[LonelyLinda]

but I am reluctant to.

DCs are 5 and 4, neither has had it an apparently it is much better to get it younger rather than as an adult.

A friend's dc has got it, so I could have the opportunity for them to catch it but it just feels so wrong.

Could anybody advise me please? Obviously I don't want my children to be poorly but if it is dangerous when they are older then it would be better to now.

As your dcs start school it's likely that they will catch it. Every reception class has an out break in autumn and spring. Don't deliberately expose your dcs. Chicken pox can (rarely) have terrible complications. If that happens, it happens. Of it happens because you knowingly exposed them then you'd never forgive yourself. If they get a bit older without catching it you could consider paying for a private immunisation to cover them.

Thank you Northernlurker, that is the same opinion as mine. I think it would be crazy to expose them to an illness. Thank you, yes I also heard there was an immunisation.

I was going to say exactly the same as northern

Echo northernlurkers response
My DS is immunised as CP is dangerous for me, but this would be how I'd approach it if this wasn't the case

Thank you thank you thank you. I feel a lot better about things now.

I immunised DD- it's not something everyone agrees with, but I am very happy we did. It's another option you might want to explore.

Yes Tethers it is absolutely something I have thought about. Did you have it done privately? I'm sure in the cities there will be some private practices that do it and I would be willing to travel.

Yes, privately. It's not cheap; around £100 (we're in London), but worth it IMO. The only reasons the NHS doesn't include it in the vaccination schedule are cost and an increased risk to the older population of shingles. However, there is now also a shingles vaccine, so the main reason is cost.

Thank you tethers, I'm sure i'd be able to find it in manchester. I'll look into that thank you!!

I would get them vaccinated. You can do so privately at Portland Hospital in London but I believe that many other hospitals also have paediatricians who work both for NHS and privately and who may be able to help you. Possibly even your GP, worth asking.

They will still be exposed at school which would basically serve as a booster and in all likelihood they will then get a much milder version (just a few spots).

I would never expose them on purpose as in a few unlucky instances it can be a very serious disease.

Read up about the vaccine first, there are some issues around how long it lasts for example so you might have to remember to give boosters. Otherwise, same as everyone else has said!

Read up about the vaccine first, there are some issues around how long it lasts for example so you might have to remember to give boosters. Otherwise, same as everyone else has said!

My kids are vaccinated. In Australia it's routine and free. My oldest had one shot, my youngest (2 years later) had to have two, four weeks apart, as they have seen that one is not enough and a booster is required. We had to pay for the booster but they expect the government to recognise it as necessary and to cover it soon.

There were no side effects whatsoever for mine with any of the chicken pox jabs. (Or any others!)

We too gave our ds the vaccination. Glad we did,

dd has been vacinated against chickenpox at Breaksphear medical. Its £90 per jab and children need 2 jabs.

Chickenpox can be hideous. My son had it and end up being treated with steriods and anti biotics. I am surprised its not included in routine jabs as chickenpox is dangerous to pregnant women.

Thank you for that info, i'll speak to my GP and if not available on NHS will go private. Thank you very much.

I would vaccinate. DH almost died of CP. I did not realise it could be so dangerous to adults :(

Just to add a word in....

My DD3 was born with it. She is now 14, and has long term (probably life long) immune deficiency from it. She has been vaccinated. I have also been vaccinated (never had it as a child, was my fault she was born with it). Neither of us are covered still, even after three jabs.

It may be that we are weird freaks and it is just US, but be warned that even with the jab, they may still get it.

Both mine are vaccinated. Cost about £150 each for 2 jags and mine had them at 2yrs and 5yrs. DH had cp as adult - it was truely horrible and he would rather pay £300 than have the dc go through it!

I wouldnt bother with the gp tbh- it is not available on the nhs - you will have to find somewhere privately. It is a live vaccine i think so they need to have it in. What is your area - someone can prob recommend.

It's not true that it's not available on the NHS - it's just not available to the general population. My son was vaccinated on the NHS as I'm vulnerable (immuno compromised). Some GPs will offer it as an additional private service so it's worth asking about. No matter where you get it, it will have to be ordered in, but that is simple enough to do.

I'd like to get dd immunised as she is 12 and never had pox. But I'm not quite sure whether to do it soon or wait for another year or two to try and cover her for longer over her childbearing years as the immunity wanes over time. I'm also unsure as to whether she would need her immunity checking before hand in case she had a sub clinical infection.
Would we need to go through her gp ( who she never needs to see and also is really hard to get appts for) or can we just phone a clinic and arrange it.

DD is vaccinated - I went to 1st Contact Travel Clinic in London. They charge £65 per shot and you need 2 within 3 years. The first we had done the same day as the MMR.

My niece was left with severe facial scaring from CP which may need surgery later on, add the possible complications you can have and my husband being immunocompromised and it was a no brainer for us to immunise.

I believe the vaccine lasts for about 9 years.

I booked direct with the clinic and got a same-day appointment. I did get the GP to put an extra vaccination sheet into DD's red book and the clinic filled this in so that we have a full vaccination record all in one place but that is just my OCD, there is no need to involve your GP (mine were v supportive of the idea and thought the UK should have the MMRV like a lot of other countries).

That's good to know :) I've found a clinic locally, so once all of Christmas is over then I'm going to give them a call.