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Is anyone considering a chicken pox approach?

54 replies

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 14/03/2020 14:04

I’ve not read anything about this and am curious to know if anyone is considering it?

I have a very frail, poorly relative so I’m being very careful as I wish to continue to visit them and so this is very much a hypothetical question.

But the reality is, if I didn’t have a poorly relative, in some ways it would be more convenient to be Ill sooner rather than later. I already have leave booked over Easter (and no plans) so a period of illness followed by leave to recover in the garden would suit me better than waiting to become ill and messing up the plans I do have in the summer.

I’m sure I don’t need to add that I’m not in anyway trivialising the disease, but I work with the public, have a child in school and an adult child in the house who is a Teacher. The likelihood of contracting the disease is high. Is it totally insane to want to get it over with?

OP posts:
Purplewhitelie · 14/03/2020 14:04

Not to SARS no.

elQuintoConyo · 14/03/2020 14:06

Lol.

Dontrainonmyparade · 14/03/2020 14:06

Er, my approach to chicken pox was to vaccinate my children against it. When that’s an option - absolutely. Until then, I’ll follow necessary precautions and hope for the best.

JustOneSquareofDarkChocolate · 14/03/2020 14:06

My DH and I have talked about it. A colleague who is a doctor and has it says she’s glad to get it early to build up a bit of immunity (she felt under the weather for two days, now feeling fine and waiting out the isolation period)

Haggisfish · 14/03/2020 14:07

I have to admit to feeling similar. I just want to get it so I’ve had it. I’m not acting on this l, obviously, but it had most certainly crossed my mind!

Tigresswoods · 14/03/2020 14:07

I'm in exactly the same place as you. It's not a popular place sadly!

doneaflit · 14/03/2020 14:07

Not at all. In a couple of weeks the NHS will be swamped. As a fit, healthy and relatively young person, it's probably safest to get it now than in a months time. Also, it's the uncertainty that I'm finding quite debilitating now. I've spent a period in isolation now (due to community contact) and didn't get it. Don't want to keep having to isolate!

JustOneSquareofDarkChocolate · 14/03/2020 14:08

Btw I vaccinated both my children against chicken pox. In this case there’s no vaccine for at least a year and I can’t see how the entire family will avoid catching it now it’s in the community.

Purplewhitelie · 14/03/2020 14:08

You first lol.

strawberrylipgloss · 14/03/2020 14:08

If I get it I want it to be early on and not during the peak phase.

Purplewhitelie · 14/03/2020 14:08

Not a fan of lung damage myself.

Goandplay · 14/03/2020 14:08

I have thought the same thing this morning. Also would mean I could visit older at risk relatives without worry after?

Meruem · 14/03/2020 14:09

I do see where you’re coming from but personally no, I don’t want to get it if I can avoid it. My risk from dying of it is relatively low but it’s still a risk that I wouldn’t willingly take. If I get it anyway then so be it but I’m not going to welcome it in!

bemoreeverything · 14/03/2020 14:10

You are acting as if deliberate exposure to CO is the done thing, when actually it is just another idiotic idea.

So no.

ThanosSavedMe · 14/03/2020 14:10

Well from knowing someone who has it, I’d really rather not get it. Sounds bloody miserable.

BlackCatSleeping · 14/03/2020 14:11

There's so much uncertainty about this disease. Reports about people still testing positive a long time after initial infection. Reports about people testing negative and then positive again. I don't think this idea of getting it over and done with are good because it doesn't seem to be working that way.

BrexpatInSwitzerland · 14/03/2020 14:14

Yes, I'll get both myself and the kids vaccinated when this becomes an option, if that's what you mean!

In all seriousness, though: I'm genuinely hoping that one of the side-effects of the current situation will be that anti-vaxxers get a serious reality check out of it!

DettolsYourFriend · 14/03/2020 14:15

 Coronavirus: Ten more die after positive diagnosis news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-ten-more-die-after-positive-diagnosis-11957525

The deaths have jumped by ten today, it's not a joke or something you want to catch on purpose.

sleepwouldbenice · 14/03/2020 14:15

You would only get a test in hospital now so you probably wouldn't know for certain if you have had it?

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 14/03/2020 14:16

As I said in the OP it actually isn’t a sensible option for me, but I’m slightly relieved to know that I’m not the only one to have had the thought.

It’s interesting to see people’s views.

OP posts:
BecauseReasons · 14/03/2020 14:16

Depends if it mutates frequently enough to avoid full immunity ever developing, like flu does. If that's the case it'll become endemic, like a seasonal flu, and there'd not be much benefit to you catching it now.

Booboostwo · 14/03/2020 14:17

The only reason to get it early is that if you need hospital care you are more likely to get a bed.

But in reality you don’t have any kind of choice in the matter.

PaddyF0dder · 14/03/2020 14:17

Hey OP. You do understand what is meant by flattening the curve, right? It means prolonging the outbreak, and spreading the infection at a slower rate. That means your individual convenience is irrelevant.

inselfisolationnow · 14/03/2020 14:18

I really wonder how accurate the death rates are anyway. They weren't testing anyone that hadn't been to a certain country or in contact with a known case.
I bet there's corona deaths that have been recorded as pneumonia etc.

7thlevelofthecandycaneforest · 14/03/2020 14:19

If I had the option I would have it now rather than later, before hospitals are swamped and so I can recover and be in a better position to help once more vulnerable people get it.