Chickenpox at nursery

[Melly1991]

Just seen a notice today that a confirmed case of chickenpox is at my daughter's nursery. She is only 19 months. Is it worth keeping her off tomorrow and Friday???? Not sure what is best? (she is not due back until Wednesday next week)

I know it's fine for kids to catch but I have a close family member who has a weak immune system and a pregnant SIL (but she has had chickenpox before?)

By the time it’s confirmed they’ve already been spreading it, there will be more come down with it now anyway. I wouldn’t keep her off as she’s probably already been exposed but I would keep her away from the family members for the incubation period.

It’s not really fine for kids to catch, most will be ok but it can have devastating effects for the unlucky few and often leaves scarring.

Your best bet would be to take her for the chicken pox vaccine now which may limit the impact on her.

I'm in the uk, never heard of chickenpox vaccine?

I’m in the UK too, it’s a private vaccination at the moment.

Is it worth getting ...?

If it’s important for your child not to catch chickenpox, yes. We paid for it as DD hadn’t caught chickenpox by the end of nursery and I didn’t want her missing school time if she caught it once she was older. If you’ve got family members who’d be at risk from a child with chickenpox it seems like an easy decision to me.