Would you get your child vaccinated against chicken pox?

[mommathatwearspink]

I'm considering getting DS vaccinated against chicken pox when he is 1 and can't really find any reason why I shouldn't. Although my DD had a mild case and wasn't particularly unwell (I wasn't aware there was a vaccine at the time), I don't see why DS needs to go through it all.
Would you get your child vaccinated? Is there a reason I shouldn't? If you did, where did you get it done?

It’s live but attenuated.

Ds was vaccinated- dh and I both seriously ill as kids with cp and didn’t want to take that risk with ds.

We are both scientists and understand the risks and benefits as well as anyone- the decision to vaccinate was a no brainier for us. No side effects, ds took his small bribery car from the nurse and off we went

he said her daughter was covered after she'd had her vaccination but wasn't ill.

She may have had a few spots due to it, or a mild breakthrough infection - if a child is exposed to wild cp then is vaccinated this can happen but it means the infection is mild. Or it’s possible she had hfmd- ds got that about a month after vaccination. Hfmd confirmed by paediatrician in person - I’d have had trouble telling the rash from CP (and paed also said it’s hatd to tell sometimes.)

Thank you Kochab that's really helpful

Yes, I'm happy to report back Celtic... DS is booked in for the end of April.

Worth noting that the vaccine can be effective even after exposure to wild CP. If given within 72 hours - possibly up to 5 days - of exposure it can prevent CP or lessen symptoms.

I have had the vaccine as we are trying for a baby. DDs have just had their first doses this week. 6 and 2 yos fine, 4 yo had pins and needles for half an hour or so (as did I iirc). Evans Pharmacies - a chain in the East Midlands - are £62.50 per dose.

Oh I forgot to say that I was advised to tell nursery when DS was vaccinated. It's a live vaccine so it was to alert any staff who might be pregnant / not had chickenpox. I think it was so they could avoid doing nappies etc!

My youngest had the vaccine, middle child had CP 3 times, every time was a totally horrific experience with spots in places you didn't think you could even get spots, inside foreskin, ear canals, up nose, eyes, it was just dreadful and he was so very very poorly. My eldest, we thought never had CP but at the start of puberty got shingles very badly, all across her breasts (and face) just as they were developing and she had a dreadful time of it.

I can't understand why anyone, if they can afford it, wouldn't vaccinate their child rather than see them go through what can be such an awful illness. DD was one of 4 out of 26 children vaccinated at preschool last year and every single other child caught it and then they're siblings got it, it went round our village school like wildfire.

I'd be interested in finding out how this goes. DD isn't old enough for the vaccination yet but DMIL is starting chemo shortly and it's strongly recommended that DD gets vaccinated.

This is a picture of my dd back, she was literally covered, in her mouth, nose, eyelids, everywhere. She was also really poorly and now has bad scarring. Wish I had taken her to be vaccinated now.