Chicken pox vaccine?

[BendingSpoons]

Is it a good idea to have the chicken pox vaccine (obviously we would have to have it privately)? Anyone done research into it? I was of the opinion that chicken pox isn't that bad and the NHS don't see it as necessary so there is no need but then I thought we might as well, to save DD being unwell and the (albeit small) risk of complications. I read it is 90% effective in children and 75% effective in teenagers/adults. Does that mean you can 'lose' immunity to it, or just that if you have it when older it doesn't work as well? I don't want to vaccinate her as a small child, only for her to catch it as an adult when it could be much worse. Also, do you have to have boosters?

Just to clarify, I am specifically asking about the chicken pox vaccine, DD is having all her others so this isn't intended to be a debate on the general pros/cons of vaccines!

I am confused. I thought that having the vaccine as a child made shingles less severe for adults.

It sucks getting chicken pox as an adult and I don't think there is any evidence that it's more severe if you have had the vaccine as a child. It just means that the vaccine wasn't effective.

Sofia my concern is I give DD the vaccine and she is immune so doesn't get chickenpox. However after say 20 years, her immunity wanes, she catches chickenpox and it is much worse as she is an adult. I don't know if this is right, I can't seem to find enough information. Happy to be told I'm wrong Your point about shingles being milder is something I haven't thought of. I would be happier thinking any risk DD had as an adult was for a mild illness. I am probably overthinking this, I just don't want to do something in her best interests that ends up worse (story of parenting!)

The NHS classifies it as a mild childhood illness. I know there can be terrible side-effects and complications, but as I understand it these are rare enough that the NHS doesn't deem the vaccine to be worth putting on the childhood vaccine list.

But BendingSpoons, in your scenario if she caught chicken pox as an adult she'd get it whether or not she was vaccinated. So, if the vaccine immunity doesn't wane (which appears to be the case in some large part of the population) then she won't get chicken pox as an adult and if it does then she might, but would have anyway. So adding it all up, I think they are better off getting the vaccine.

The NHS hasn't put it on the list because it's expensive and isn't as life threatening as some other diseases. That doesn't mean that it isn't a horrible illness to have and therefore worth vaccinating against.

I was making an assumption that if she wasn't vaccinated she would probably catch it as a child and would hopefully have a milder form compared to potentially getting it as an adult.

Ok, I understand. I guess here in the USA everyone is vaccinated, so not too many kids getting chickenpox as a child any more.

It's worth mentioning that if you are vaccinated, when you come into contact with the disease, you should receive an immunity boost. The NHS do not offer it routinely based on 2 main reasons;
A, cost
B, potential increase in shingles as adults not receiving natural immunity boosting as CP not circulating in the community - The JCVI are gathering data on this from other countries that do universally vaccinate against chicken pox.

Australia only offer the first dose. If you want the second dose, you need to pay for it. This will typically mean the wild disease will still circulate as not everyone will seroconvert following the first dose.

Anyway, point being, USA 2 doses are mandatory but this is not the case in all countries that routinely vaccinate against chicken pox so if a third dose is required to boost immunity in later life, then we will know. My doctor thought this would be highly unlikely and he said you can't guarantee that any vaccine will offer life-long immunity but it probably will.

My daughter has been vaccinated and my main concern was that she could potentially get it in later life when she's at more risk. However, I wasn't prepared to risk her getting a bad case full stop and as it's on the WHO list of essential medicines, I weighed it up and went with it. I have always been wary of CP where friends would purposely expose their kids (and think nothing of the fact they could then be exposing others thereafter) I just wouldn't have done that. Although, you could argue I have as I got her the vaccine. I wouldn't be surprised if its eventually rolled out here one day. Google JCVI and read their minutes in the Varicella sub committee part. Also research on reputable websites such as WHO.

Thank you 2010 that's really helpful, I'll have a look at things you mentioned.

I got it for DD, I'd just rather she didn't have to go through chickenpox if she didn't need to, and also because of shingles - my brother had shingles three times before he was 30 and it was really horrible and painful for him. If DD never has chickenpox then she can't get shingles.

It cost a fair bit and sod's law its now being put on the schedule in my country (Finland) but at least she'll get a booster for free.

On the subject of shingles, you can still develop shingles having had the vaccine rather than CP itself. This is because the vaccine replicates the disease so still lays dormant and could still potentially come back as shingles. However, research so far demonstrates that those vaccinated are less likely to develop shingles than those who caught the wild disease and if they do develop shingles later on, it should be less severe.

DD was born in 1997 on an island off the coast of the US, where I was working. All children that I knew were vaccinated at age two, mainly I think because we all worked full time (six weeks' maternity leave) and couldn't have taken the time off - I was a sole parent and obviously no family if you're an expat. I only vaguely remember it, and was surprised to learn that it wasn't automatically given here. DD has come into contact with many children with chicken pox and not (thus far) developed any symptoms. I can't really see any downside of having the vaccination.

I wish my DC had had the vaccination. He had a stroke following CP a few months earlier. Stroke is one of the outcomes of CP that not many people know about.

He had a fairly bad but then a few months later, woke up for the day then collapsed. When I got him up his left side had completely stopped working. Blue light to hospital where they confirmed that he'd had a stroke and was caused by CP . Following rehabilitation, he has since gone on to a near complete recovery but will be on lifelong medication. That said we've been incredibly lucky he could have easily remained hemiplegic.

It's very hard to stand aside from CP vaccination conversations and not shout loudly to vaccinate. Yes it was rare what happened to him but it doesn't feel rare when it happens to your child. I only wish I had been fully informed about the dangers of CP.

I would have vaccinated.

We are in UK and we paid for the chicken pox vaccine when DD was 2.5yrs old. Our GP surgery ordered it in for us and only charged us cost price which was £80 (£40 for each i injection). It is much expensive elsewhere, I was quoted about £150 from another clinic.

For us it was one less thing to worry about. If we can prevent her from being ill then why wouldn't we. Also, I haven't had chicken pox. The price we paid is far less than the cost of her missing paid nursery days and the cost of me taking time off work if she was ill. I think it's worth it. Lots of kids get CP very mildly of course. And some really suffer. You just don't know how they will be affected.

It's a standard vaccine in US and lots of other places.