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Original poster

has anyone's dc had the chicken pox vaccine?

83 replies

happynappies · 10/06/2008 15:04

Was talking to my HV today about chicken pox - a couple of friends' dcs have had it recently, but touch wood my 18 month old dd has avoided it thus far. I was taking the approach that 'better to have it now than when she's older' and 'if she gets it she gets it' - and while not going out of my way to see that she gets chicken pox, I was also not being too avoidant of it either iykwim. She (HV) said that it is a horrendous illness, and I should not be so laidback about it, and should consider the chicken pox vaccine. I'd never heard of it - but she said it is avaiable at GP surgery - it is just not part of the vaccination schedule (yet) although it is in parts of Asia. I was surprised as I'd never heard of the vaccine, and wondered if other peoples dc have had it, and are there any disadvantages to be aware of. Sorry for needlessly long post!

OP posts:
Bucharest · 10/06/2008 15:08

My child had it along with all the other routine ones, I wasn't in the UK at the time and where I was it's a routine vac. No problems at all.

Babblan · 10/06/2008 15:14

My dd has had it too. In Germany it is part of
the standard jabs in childhood. One good reason to immunise is that you wont get shingles later in life...

Original poster
happynappies · 10/06/2008 15:19

Thanks for your messages Bucharest and Babblan. So no down sides to having it then? I'm still not utterly convinced that I can just ask for it and get it, but if HV says so... will have to see how it goes. If anyone has asked and been turned down I'd be really interested to hear. Anyone else?

OP posts:
fiodyl · 10/06/2008 15:19

Its routine in US too I think, Ive heard of schools there refusing to accept pupils who haven't had the vaccine.

Does one chicken pox vaccine as a child protect against cp for life? Im thinking about looking into it as I think why go through all that/put the dC through it if its easily prevented

pagwatch · 10/06/2008 15:23

Not in a squillion years would i have a jab for something that is uncomfortable rather than life threatening.

callmeovercautious · 10/06/2008 15:24

I was told by the GP last week that it is still being trialed in the UK. You may be able to get it privately though. Or go to the States

HV is right (I know I just said a HV is right ) CP is horrendous. DD is 21m and had it last week, she had a temp, no appitite and woke up every hour all night. She even halucinated one night which really freaked me out. She is 9 days through it now - sonce the first spots appeared and the scabs are just starting to come off so she is itching like mad, although her temp has gone now.

chipkid · 10/06/2008 15:36

my neice was vaccinated as she lives in the states. Apparently she may still get CP but would only have a mild dose following the vaccine.

chipkid · 10/06/2008 15:37

my two have both just had it-it is unpleasant but piriton really helps

Original poster
happynappies · 10/06/2008 20:23

just bumping in case anyone has any views?

OP posts:
pagwatch · 10/06/2008 20:44

But you won't get views. you will get replies from people who have had it, or who know people who have had it because thats what you asked.
If you want views you need to ask would people have CP vac if offered it

Only the nosey or bored will answer otherwise ( like me) and you will just get lots of 'gosh yes its great'

pagwatch · 10/06/2008 20:44

at having outed myself as both nosey and bored

ScaryHairy · 10/06/2008 20:45

I am sure I read that it is only licenced for people aged 11 and over in the UK. Is this correct?

TotalChaos · 10/06/2008 20:46

it's a case of balancing risks. the risk of a rare adverse reaction to the vaccine against the risk of a rare but serious case of chicken pox and the more common inconvenience and discomfort of an average case of chickenpox.

btw DS had chicken pox at 3, it troubled him very little, so it's not always grim.

WinkyWinkola · 10/06/2008 20:47

CP wasn't horrendous for my DCs. They complained a bit the day before the spots broke out but after that, no bother.

It's up to you whether to get the vaccine but from my experience, CP didn't create any issues for us.

stuffedaubergine · 10/06/2008 20:48

pag
i wouldn't have it or give it either
chicken pox "horrendous" -- first I've heard

Flibbertyjibbet · 10/06/2008 20:49

No, my two have had chicken pox so are now immune

They had it at the same time 2.5y and 12m and it lasted about 3 days and nights each.

What would a rare but serious case of chicken pox entail then?

pagwatch · 10/06/2008 20:50

oi stuffed
fes up - bored or nosey ?

stuffedaubergine · 10/06/2008 20:54

always nosey
but right now displacement activity rather than jiffing the kitchen cupboards

sorry op
back to the business in hand..
I have read a theory that chicken pox vaccine might be a factor in the increase in shingles cases

worth a google?

Califrau · 10/06/2008 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

silverfrog · 10/06/2008 20:56

agree with pagwatch - no way would my children have a jab for something that is in most cases uncomfortable.

Both dds have recently had chiken pox - dd1 was ill for 3 days (up all of one night) and more or less shrugged it off. dd2 fared worse, and had it really quite badly, but it was still just a routine illness.

It is rare to have chicken pox complications, and to hear of a health professional describing chicken pox as horrendous is quite bizarre.

stuffedaubergine · 10/06/2008 20:58

here you go

pagwatch · 10/06/2008 21:00

stuffit
I had heard the shingles thing too.

I also have a feeling that this is because the jab is only effective for a period ( as with the increasing mumps in adults because of shelf life of mumps immunity from that jab) but couldn't swear to it.
DD had a rash a few weeks ago which may have been chicken pox but Dr wasn't sure ( may also have been measles but still not sure ). She was crappy for a few days and then fine

stuffedaubergine · 10/06/2008 21:02

i do believe that's an "alternative" website btw

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 10/06/2008 21:03

It's all relative isn't it? All my 3 had it one after the other including dd who was in heart failure at the time (not CP related) and it wasn't horrendous. It was uncomfortable and a PITA. I had it at age 26 and 26 weeks pg and it was pretty grim admittedly.

Like someone further down I wouldn't vax against a disease that is, on the whole, a mild illness. Although I would have considered vax for them if they hadn't had it by the time they were teenagers as it is much more risky to have it as an adult.

There are a couple of things about the vax that I'd want to know. Does it give lifelong immunity? I don't see the point of immunising if it just means you get it at a time when it's more risky for you. And how does the vax protect against shingles? If you get the true disease you can then get shingles can't you? Does the vax not put you in the same position; ie immune to CP but open to shingles?

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