Chickenpox vaccine

[mumsthewordi]

Nearly everyone in daughters class (she is four and just started reception), has had the chickenpox vaccine

I had not even considered it as an option , I don't know why they've all gone this route as now daughters got reduced exposure and she may get when older which I would be more nervous about,

Should just get her to have it too ?

I had it as a kid, fairly mild. DD had it about age 6, fairly mild.

Dh had it in his 30s, a week of horror.

Ds had it aged 3, got complications and sepsis and we nearly lost him. Absolutely healthy 3 year old. Could easily have died or been left with lifelong brain damage.

Even if it's mild, it's a week off school with a grumpy child covered in itchy scabs. I don't know why we tolerate that when there's a safe alternative.

just think it's sad not everyone can vaccinate if they want to - great private system but Mumsnet is generally about individual rights rather than collective and societal choices I've learnt. I'd prefer money on this vaccine better spent on other nhs programmes,

Chickenpx is a rite of passage many of us went through as kids and came out of just fine. For healthy children, it’s generally a mild illness that provides lifelong immunity once contracted, there’s no need for boosters or uncertainty about vaccine effectiveness over time.

While severe complications are possible, they’re rare, and for most families, it’s an inconvenience rather than a major health concern. There’s also an argument to be made about letting kids build natural immunity rather than relying on vaccines for illnesses that aren’t life-threatening for the vast majority.

It’s understandable why some parents opt for the vaccine to avoid the disruption or discomfort, but for others, chickenpox is just part of growing up. It’s worth remembering that we’ve managed it for generations without widespread vaccination and come through okay.

@mumsthewordi you're obviously against the vaccine and that's fine. Don't get it for your kids. I'm unsure why you would take the risk though if you can afford it? What is it you're trying to prove by purposefully not doing it?Both my healthy kids are scarred for life on their faces after getting it and one ended up seriously ill in hospital, All of my friends with young children got their kids vaccinated after I shared a picture of my 4 year old DD with a swollen face, eyes barely visible, on a drip. The guilt I felt while in hospital with her was indescribable.

I didn't say i am against it
I said it shouldn't be a vaccine for the well off

For healthy children, it’s generally a mild illness that provides lifelong immunity once contracted, there’s no need for boosters or uncertainty about vaccine effectiveness over time.

The immunity from the vaccine is the same as having had the illness - what’s your point?

Dont have the vaccine then OP. Two weeks off work for me is more expensive than the vaccine. Some of us can’t just down tools for weeks on end and look to prevent that happening wherever happening.

My 2 primary aged children have both had the CP vaccine just before starting reception

We live in London paid for it (around £75 for each dose- you need 2 around 4-6 weeks alert)

Other countries have the CP vaccine on the immunisation schedule and I don't know why the UK doesn't

Preferred to have them vaccinated then for them to get CP and potentially become very unwell/have complications

Plus DH and I both work FT in busy jobs and also want to prevent needing extended time off if CP hit both the kids!

You’re 100% right to flag a wealth divide, it’s sad and it’s crap, but that’s been caused by the NHS and the JCVI who have sat on it for decades knowing the vaccine is being safely administered abroad and privately in the UK.
In countries where it’s on the program it’s combined with the MMR and instead of that being given babies and preschoolers get the MMRV instead. So it’s a straight swap and introducing it shouldn’t cost any extra money. A direct comparison would be when the 5 in 1 changed to the 6 in 1, adding Hep B, about 7 years ago. So it’s not money that could be better spent elsewhere or anything like that.

Of course it’s your decision as a parent (unless you live somewhere where it’s mandatory!) but whatever you decide do make sure to research the facts and make an informed decision. A lot of the stuff you’ve said- better to have natural immunity than rely on vaccines (?), concerns about lasting immunity, need for boosters etc. aren’t true. Other countries have been vaccinating for decades so there’s a lot of research out there. The Americans were among the first so there’s CDC is a good resource if you want to read further.

But right of passage absolutely not!! To me a rite of passage is the big life events- births, starting school, first job, going to uni, marriage etc. not getting a yucky itchy illness!

I agree it shouldn't be a vaccine just for the well off, it will most likely be added to the list of NHS vaccines last year which is great. We immunise against flu which is a 'mild' illness in most cases but if you can avoid the risk why wouldn't you?

We had DS and DH done this year, our wedding and a big family holiday was coming up and we had a few scares with CP in nursery so didn't want to risk it. DH had never had it so we were as worried about him as DS. Can be nasty too as an adult.

Information from JCVI about proposed changes to childhood immunisations schedule, to include CP vaccine in the future

www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-varicella-vaccination-programme-jcvi-advice-14-november-2023/jcvi-statement-on-a-childhood-varicella-chickenpox-vaccination-programme