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Original poster

Getting DCs vaccinated against Chicken Pox?

99 replies

bringmesunshine2009 · 01/03/2012 22:20

DSs 2 and 1 missed the last circuit of the pox. I am back at work and figure a vaccination is a helluva a lot cheaper than days off work, plus I am happy to spare them from being grumpy and itchy. Particularly since DH hasn't had it before, I am struggling to see any great arguments for not doing it.

The main googleable disadvantage seems to be the more people are vaccinated against CP the less exposure others have, increasing their chance of shingles? Which seems a bit of a stretch, since DSs are a wee drop in the population ocean.

So AIBU, if so why? Unless I hear amazing arguments to the contrary I am calling the vaccination people ASAP.

OP posts:

foreverondiet · 01/03/2012 22:52

Downside if you have a DD - my friend had CP in pregnancy, she had vaccination as a child - if you have CP you are immune for life, whereas vaccination can wear off. Can't see any downside for a DS.

We had a very bad experience this time last year. DS1 came out in spots a few before holiday but GP cleared him to go, no longer infectious for outward flight but DS2 came out in spots while we were in transit on way home - ie came out in spots whilst we were in dallas airport and luggage checked through. We got on the plane anyway as only spots on his tummy and we didn't know what else to do, our phones didn't work we had no internet access etc, totally stuck but within a couple of hours he was spotty all over and very ill on transatlantic flight. Paramedics met us at heathrow....

scattergun · 01/03/2012 22:53

Mine had it and kids in extended family. Quick jab, no ill effects and no chicken pox. Happy.

BrassMonkeyBaubles · 01/03/2012 22:54

I'd get the vaccine if given the opportunity. 3 of my kids had it, no complications but they were all very badly covered in spots absolutely everywhere! They were so miserable and poorly and I would have taken the vaccine to prevent this if possible.
My 4th child (with no health issues normally) had complications. A staphylococcus aureus infection in the spots...resulting in some "necrotising" of the skin...basically he looked (and felt!) as though he had been scalded with boiling water. His entire nappy area was peeled. He was on maximum doses of paracetamol, ibuprofen antibiotics and antibiotic cream. He could not wear a nappy or be dressed for over a week. We are still dumbfounded as to why he was not admitted to hospital and put on morphine. (we were told by night dr over phone to keep him home as he'd likely pick up more infections at hospital!) ....it was the worst pain for him and the hardest challenge to care for him through this. Not because we minded changing the towels in his cot with every wee or pooh, or applying the creams but it's extremely distressing seeing your child in such a state. He's three now and still has some scars. Thank goodness he can't remember it now.
I get really cross now when I hear of these "chicken pox parties" because I think they're a terrible idea and very irresponsible.
If you can get a vaccine then get it!

SlinkingOutsideInFrocks · 02/03/2012 00:41

What a timely thread - researched this and decided to go ahead - bought the vaccinations at the end of last year and finally got around to making the appointment. Kids are being vaccinated against CP next week.

OurPlanetNeptune · 02/03/2012 00:59

Excellent. Thanks everyone. Some great info here. I have never had chicken pox. I'm taking medication which suppress my immune system and CP is something I would not want to catch. My three boys have never had CP and so I had wondered about having them immunised. I will be speaking to my GP tomorrow.

tiggerandpoohtoo · 02/03/2012 01:12

I have 2 DD's. I asked my GP about the cp vaccine and he told me he wouldn't do it unless they were in their teens and they hadn't had cp.
He said that if you catch chicken pox you have lifetime immunity but the vaccine would wear off. Therefore when they were in their 20's/30's they wouldn't be immune. He said this wasn't good if they became pregnant and ended up catching it then.

As it happened, DD2 caught it a week after asking him so it was too late for her, and DD1 just didn't have anything, even when one by one all her class came down with it. I guess she must already be immune somehow.

LadyHarrietDeSpook · 02/03/2012 01:21

We got in done in the US when I was visiting my parents.

Would definitely recommend.

Pennybubbly · 02/03/2012 01:47

Just as a side note OP:

My DD had the vaccination privately (we live in Japan), but ended up with Chicken Pox anyway several months later.
It was the same doctor that vaccinated her that then diagnosed her with it - so I asked how it could be she'd caught it anyway, and he told me it is only 70% effective.

However she had quite a mild case (never went further than her torso) and didn't seem bothered by the itching, so no scars. My DS caught it before I had chance to vaccinate him and he suffered quite badly with scars and itching.

And I had time of work with them both

Pennybubbly · 02/03/2012 01:48

off work, obviously

Ozziegirly · 02/03/2012 02:55

We are vaccinated here in Australia and it seems to be a very mild vaccine, I haven't heard of anyone having a reaction. I was vaccinated before I got pregnant because although I had had the illness as a child, I wasn't immune.

As for the immunity of a vaccine wearing off, do they not offer MMR and varicella vaccine as standard if you are planning a baby? Everyone I know who planned a baby had a blood test to see what they were immune to and then if necessary had the vaccinations before pregnancy. Obviously it doesn't help if you fall pregnant accidently though.

Fresh01 · 02/03/2012 03:25

Ozziegirly, I had DC1 in oz and had blood tests before ttc but it is not something regularly done in UK.

We moved back to UK before DC1 was 18 months to get CP vaccine in Oz so I asked here about it. Apparently it is the least effective childhood vaccine. I know of 2 kids who had vaccine in oz who got cp, one had moved here and other on holiday. Yes, they had a mild dose but still housebound for a week.
Also in approx 90% of cases it is a routine illness which will give you long term immunity which vaccine does not guarantee.

Jnice · 02/03/2012 03:59

In Canada it's part of the regular shot schedule, I am pleased for my kids to have it. There is enough crap going around that you can't vaccinate against without adding more diseases to the mix. I hate my CP scars plus shingles is awful if you get it.

Why would you willing put your kids through an infection rather than get the jab?

PlasticFlamingo · 02/03/2012 04:02

I had my DD vaccinated, as she had bad eczema and her dermatologist recommended it.
She did catch chicken pox a while after she was vaccinated. It was very mild, only a few spots on her belly.

It seems the vaccination doesn't completely protect against catching chicken pox but greatly reduces the symptoms.

PlasticFlamingo · 02/03/2012 04:05

I had my DD vaccinated, as she had bad eczema and her dermatologist recommended it.
She did catch chicken pox a while after she was vaccinated. It was very mild, only a few spots on her belly.

It seems the vaccination doesn't completely protect against catching chicken pox but greatly reduces the symptoms.

PlasticFlamingo · 02/03/2012 04:07

Sorry double post, damn phone!

NunTheWiser · 02/03/2012 04:34

Part of the routine vaccination schedule here in Oz. Even if your child does get CP after the jab, it's a much less severe case. Well worth it IMO (remembers own horrendous CP experience).

sleeplessinsuburbia · 02/03/2012 08:05

Babies and young people can die from the chicken pox. My friend's sister had them internally and could barely breathe and was in hospital for ages. Rare but I'd rather not see that. My mother's sister died.

kitbit · 02/03/2012 08:13

The jab is recommended in Spain so ds had it. He still caught pox when it went around school but had only about 100 spots and wasn't bothered by them. Friend's little boy had painful pox and has bad scarring :( I'm glad ds got the jab.

RecursiveMoon · 02/03/2012 08:14

But how do you find somewhere to carry out the vaccination? I know that I can Google it, but how do I know that the place offering the vaccination is competent / registered, or whatever they should be?

I know, it's a silly question , but it's making me anxious.

MummytoKatie · 02/03/2012 09:05

If you had asked me 3 weeks ago (when dd had cp) I would have sobbed "do it! Anything but this!" As it was absolute hell for about a week. Now I'm through it I am glad she's had it as it was horrible enough to be pretty sure she's safe for life. From what some of the other posters are saying if you vaccinate it is not guaranteed so if that is correct I wouldn't just yet.

I would get your h to have it done though as if he gets it now it is going to be pretty nasty.

CruCru · 02/03/2012 09:16

Does anyone know if you can have the jab if you are breastfeeding? I went to a travel clinic but the doctor there suggested that I stop feeding as it is a live vaccine and he didn't know whether the virus would be passed on to DS.

It wasn't practical to stop feeding overnight so I didn't have it. I have always assumed that the baby gets the antibodies not the virus through breast milk. Is that correct?

popcorner · 02/03/2012 09:29

Recursivemoon - you could approach your Gp in the first instance, some may be prepared to do the vaccine at a cost. Alternatively a travel clinic or private GP surgery - there are a lot more of these around than you think, just google it.

crucru - there won't be any data available on the safety of live vaccines when breast feeding as it is not an option to conduct any safety trials. however the varicella vaccine is given to pregnant women if they have a significant CP exposure and lack immunity themselves, from this I would deduce that it would be safe when breast feeding.

There is now a shingles vaccine available in the UK which is licensed for older people - over 60 I think, it is not part of the immunisation schedule At present but may be included in the future - this vaccine could also be sourced privately if you felt it would be useful in the future.

fatherchewylouis · 02/03/2012 10:21

I would have done it if I had been aware of it before my children caught it.

They had it qute mildly (although my sn does have scars) but my friends son was hospitalised for over a week with complications so i have seen nasty complications with my own eyes.

Pagwatch · 02/03/2012 10:27

I wouldn't do it but I don't care in the slightest if you do.

Your choice.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 02/03/2012 10:43

I had both my girls vaccinated. My eldest was vaccinated as routine in Turkey where we lived at the time but I had to pay for my youngest. We went to a private hospital that has a good reputation and it cost £100, I'm sure we could have got it cheaper somewhere else but I was happier going somewhere well known.

They will have to have a booster before they are 10 and then they will have lifetime immunity.

I never had chicken pox as a child and nor did my husband, although I have foudn out I am actually immune (I don't know how that happened?)

I am glad I had it done, it saves them going through a horrid uncomfotable disease. It can also sometimes cause severe complications and has even resulted in death in some children.

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