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Original poster

Chicken pox vaccination for adults?

19 replies

HunKeRMunKeR · 02/05/2006 09:24

If you hadn't had chicken pox as a child and were in contact with children fairly regularly, would you have the vaccine (not for me, for a relative)? If so, do you know if it's available on the NHS or is it a private job?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 02/05/2006 09:41

Check w/your GP. Mine are stingy w/vaccines. If yours is, too, it's worth writing your PCT.

Chicken pox as an adult can be quite nasty. My SIL's partner got it last year at age 39 and was in hospital for a fortnight after the pox got into his lungs and closed his throat up - he had to have a trach.

A vaccine would have been much cheaper.

MumtoBen · 02/05/2006 19:35

I didn't have it as a child and had it last year aged 31. Was in hospital for 3 days. My GP thought I was going to die. She said if I wasn't as healthy as I was I could have dropped dead. I looked into whether I could get a vaccine some years back. It is routinely given I believe to older children in America who haven't had chickenpox.

I just thank my lucky stars that I didn't get it a few months earlier, while I was pregnant.

A few people at work have also had it as adults. One had pneumonia and was off work for months. Another man took 2 months to recover. A relative of someone I know had her son in intensive care. It took me about 2 months to recover. I would definitely have the vaccine.

expatinscotland · 02/05/2006 19:37

Too right, MumtoBen. Adults seem to be very badly affected by it. SIL's partner was weak for months after he had it. And he has a scar from the trach.

chapsmum · 02/05/2006 19:43

Hunker, as far as I'm aware the vaccine is avaliable on the NHS but only for immunocompramised patients.
However in pregnancy chicken pox can be harmful and so if you friend was particularly concered ( and female) she could ask her GP to check her immunity levels say from a family planning POV Wink and then innoculate her if she is not immune.

GeorginaA · 02/05/2006 19:44

I would. I fought to get the vaccine on the NHS and got it a few years ago now.

However, do be aware it's only 90% successful at giving immunity (although it is supposed to be less severe symptoms if you do catch it after vaccination) when exposed when ds1 came down with it and I was pregnant, I didn't have immunity to chickenpox and still had to have the antibody jab. So technically, I could still come down with it at some point.

Chickenpox as an adult (and even more so as a pregnant adult) scares me, tbh. I've heard too many bad stories and researched too much into the complications statistics while worrying about whether I'd caught it while pregnant.

chapsmum · 02/05/2006 19:44

oh and sorry for the hijack hunker but I need to talk to you about teething!!!!

chapsmum · 02/05/2006 19:44

Hunker, as far as I'm aware the vaccine is avaliable on the NHS but only for immunocompramised patients.
However in pregnancy chicken pox can be harmful and so if you friend was particularly concered ( and female) she could ask her GP to check her immunity levels say from a family planning POV Wink and then innoculate her if she is not immune.

GeorginaA · 02/05/2006 19:49

Nope - there was a news story a while back about chickenpox vaccine being more widely available not just for immunocompromised - will see if I can find it (was what swayed my GP in the end).

\link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2161176.stm\Chickenpox jab launched}

Seems to be aimed at healthcare workers, women contemplating pregancy and immunocompromised.

Ringrosey · 06/07/2006 08:15

I'm considering having the vaccination now, as I'm hoping to have another baby and I was exposed during my last pregnancy and had to have the emergency jab. I'd rather not go through that panic again, and I'm worried that I might not get sufficient warning about it next time.

On the other hand, I'm nervous about requesting a vaccine that's not licensed, especially when my GP has no experience of it and can't give me any advice. I spent 2 mins 'researching' on the internet and read American article which talked about 'increased risk of shingles' and 'insufficient research into long-term effects on future children' and scared myself silly!

If there's a serious risk to unborn babies, why is this vaccination not licensed and recommended here?

I don't know which way to go now. Your thoughts/guidance would be appreciated!!

Rosieglow · 06/07/2006 08:33

I think the vaccine is routine in the states - does anyone know what age they give it?
My GP gave me a prescription for my son (long story) but I haven't used it yet as I was nervous to do it not really knowing much about this jab / complications etc.
Any comments would be appreciated.

Uwila · 06/07/2006 09:22

Does anyone know where to get a varicella jab? My DH doesn't know if he's had the chickenpox so I think he should go get the jab before the kids (aged 3 and 1) come home with chickenpox. I've had a look on the internet and didn't come up with anything. I've suggested that he go ask the GP about it, but he hasn't gotten around to it.

LeahE · 06/07/2006 09:39

If I hadn't had it then yes, I would -- or at least, I'd see if my GP could check my immunity first (I know when I had chicken pox I only had around half a dozen spots, so I imagine it's possible though unlikely to have had it without realising) and have the jab if I wasn't immune or if they wouldn't check my immunity.

Ringrosey · 06/07/2006 10:50

Thanks LeahE. They had to check my immunity before they gave me the emergency injection last time, so I know I'm not immune. Do you know anyone who's had the jab, or decided not to have it?

Uwila - my GP says she can get it for me, but I'd have to pay, as it's not licensed. She said the cost is likely to be £60 - £30 for each of two jabs, 4-8 wks apart.

expatinscotland · 06/07/2006 10:54

Well worth it IMO, rosey. Wouldn't want to get chicken pox as an adult/whilst pregnant.

NOT good.

Ringrosey · 06/07/2006 11:07

Thanks Expat. I certainly wouldn't want to go through what your relative went through! But my husband and sister both had it in their 30s and it wasn't nice, but it was ok. If there's no risks to the jab, then I guess it's a no brainer. But if there are... It would just be reassuring to speak to an adult who has had the jab and maybe had more professional advice than I've been able to get so far... Do you know anyone who has?

expatinscotland · 06/07/2006 11:18

I don't know anyone who's had the jab as an adult, no, sorry.

Ledodgyherring · 06/07/2006 11:22

I'd be interested to find this out too as I have never had chicken pox. I will ask about getting my immunity checked first though as my dd had chicken pox and I didn't get it and when i was a kid my next door neighbour who was also my best friend got it and I got the measles instead lol!

Ringrosey · 06/07/2006 18:48

I've just found this link, which I think is quite reassuring.

It's American, and primarily about children, but it sets out the risks (negligible).

I think I'm going to go ahead and have it and, since I'm going to go with the more cautious 3mth delay before trying for another baby (as advised by my GP, whereas this article refers to 1mth) I want to get on with it! I'll let you know how I get on!!

Ringrosey · 06/07/2006 18:52

Sorry - that link didn't appear quite as I'd intended, but it works. You can tell I'm new to this message board lark!

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