Chickenpox, too late for vaccine 2?

[softslicedwhite]

DC1 was immunised against chickenpox as a toddler, as part of a study going on in a hospital near us in London. We moved away before they could get their second dose. DC is 9 now and hasn't (yet?!) had chickenpox, and he's been in nursery and school 9-3 since the age of 3. He may have immunity, I mean it seems likely because it's definitely been round nursery and class before. But who knows? Maybe they got lucky?

DC2 now has chickenpox, they were never vaccinated as it still isn't offered in this country. They're doing ok but I am VERY worried about DC1 getting it now as they have severe and complex needs, refuse to take any medicine orally, refuse to eat and drink when ill, end up in hospital with bad infections and are very strong and able to fight me when I try to do things like apply lotions/creams.

If they get a bad case it will inevitably end up with them in hospital.

I first noticed spots on DC2 on Tuesday.

I keep feeling like I should try and get DC1 another dose (which I could do privately) but would it even make a difference at this point? Has too much time elapse for it to have any real benefit?

After a vaccination it takes up to two weeks for immunity to kick in, so probably pretty pointless now tbh.
He may have immunity from the first vaccine, some children do.

That is what my rational brain says, my emotional brain says 'WAAAAAAHHHH WE ARE DOOMED' and is trying desperately to hold back a tide of shit.

I believe that one dose is pretty effective at preventing chickenpox, and very effective at preventing severe chickenpox.

I got my kids vaccinated at ages 3 & 6 but then forgot to get the second vaccine (it was only available in London then so a bit of a hassle for me). Anyway, they are almost 13 and 16 now and have never (touch had it!

Is it that if they've had one dose, if they do get it then the symptoms might be milder?

I can see why its a worry when he has other significant needs that make illness harder to deal with but I think in your shoes i'd wait and see what happens rather than go and get re-vaccinated. As you say, it would probably be too late now to make any real difference.

I thought I'd read that getting the vaccine within a few days after exposure can help prevent it being caught/makes it less serious.

If your child has already had chickenpox, they are considered to have lifelong immunity, so there is no need for them to be vaccinated.

However, if it is unclear whether or not your child has had chickenpox, they can still be vaccinated as this can prevent future disease and it is unlikely to cause any harm even if they have had chickenpox before.

Chickenpox is transmitted directly by close contact or droplet spread and it can take several days for symptoms to develop. If you believe your child has been exposed to chickenpox and is not showing any symptoms, they may still have the vaccine. Vaccination within 3 days of exposure may help prevent chickenpox or reduce the severity of disease, resulting in fewer skin lesions and a shorter period of illness. However, there is limited information that being vaccinated up to 5 days after exposure may reduce disease severity.

They are taken 10 days apart so you can't do the 2nd one now and be done with it. I was given really strict instructions about that.

You may get lucky and the 1st one may have given him some immunity. If you are in the UK, a child with complex needs is usually eligible to be vaccinated so I'd get myself off to the GP and see if you can start a new vaccination cycle asap.

Caveat - I am not a doctor, just had a bit of a mission to get private vaccinations recently as kids have escaped it and are now tweens. Not really prepared to leave it to catching it as adults.

Mine has only had 1 dose- a change in circumstances meant we’ve been unable to afford to get a second dose. It’s been a year now. I read that in the US, they leave it years before giving dose 2- as the first is so effective- however I don’t know if they use the same vaccine as here in the U.K. from what I’ve read dose 1 is about 85% effective in the prevention of CP but dose 2 boosts that up to about 98%

In other countries they give the MMRV vaccine which includes the varicella (chickenpox) one. It's given on the same schedule as the MMR one I.e. 12 months and around age 4 ish