University life for freshers (2019/20) - we're hopping towards Easter with a pandemic to avoid **Title edited by MNHQ**

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Actually that’s a US source but measles vaccine introduced in UK in 60s.

I had measles and mumps when little and the rubella jab.

I remember being told mumps is a strange one in that you can catch it only one side and the other side can still get it. (apparently I had it one side first then the other) but that sounds like an old wives' tale to me.

I had measles and mumps as a child. Rubella vaccine as a teen (and BCG).

Was anti-vax movement even a thing before Wakefield hit the headlines?

I think Wakefield started the anti vax thing, definitely.

Most of us won't have had mumps jabs as children. And most of us have, therefore, probably had mumps. I can't remember when it came in but , I think, the late 80s?

Definitely rubella, tetanus, polio and BCG vaccines should have been had if you were a child in the 70s/80s.

Doh, I just remembered that to emigrate to the US I had to have the MMRV and TDaP, and probably several other vaccinations - as I recall I couldn't prove I'd had any, so they gave me them all.

I also had a chest X-ray to prove I was clear of TB; HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea tests; and an interview with a doctor who checked among other things that I'm really female... Always good to know...

I had german measles as a child. When tested after first baby had to have the jab. Tested after second had the jab. Apparently it just does not take with some people the nurse told me.

DD (mid-teen) has never had chicken pox (knowingly). We were on an extended family holiday when she was about five, with her cousin brewing it unbeknownst to us. She has since been in close contact with friends who've had but nada.

That's bad luck for you @justasking111.

I had measles as a child and I think the rubella jab, but neither for mumps

I’m wondering what will happen re uni students if we go into lockdown over coronavirus.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 my DD2 is 16 and never knowingly had chicken pox either. DD1(uni) had it when DD2 was 3 weeks old and I was breastfeeding. HV said she probably got my immunity. She’s been around it so many times so I’m assuming she had it without spots!

It doesn't bear thinking about @bigTillyMint.

Maybe the peak will coincide with the Easter hols?

I didn't have the measles jab in the early 80s because dm noticed that there seemed to be outbreaks of measles which weren't really bad with most children recovering quickly, and outbreaks where it was bad and lots of children were hospitalised/had complications.
She noticed that children who were vaccinated seemed to not get it during the milder outbreaks, but got it during the bad outbreaks. So she concluded that it was probably safer to risk catching it.
We had all our other jabs and she's generally pro-vaccination, so I think it was a genuine informed decision.

There wasn't a mumps jab then, but all girls had rubella at 13yo in our area.

@Benjispruce sorry to tell you that I didn't catch chickenpox off my sister, my friends etc. In fact I was around it lots as a child. I assumed I must have natural immunity, or have had it really mildly. I caught it beginning of my 3rd year at uni, when no one else I knew had it, so much have been a chance encounter. So make sure your dd either gets the jab or keeps away from anyone who has it and doesn't assume she's fine.

I too have been wondering about Coronavirus, because I’m in Canada and so the main news I’m watching is BBC world news. There seems to be very little talk of it here in Canada.
I’m coming home in two weeks, I’m just hoping things don’t go Global in that time, I suppose we just have to wait and see what happens.

That’s interesting @Witchend . I presumed that she’d just get tested if she gets pregnant as that’s what happened to my sil and it turned out she was immune. I didn’t know a vaccine was available unless you are immune compromised.

Dd2 just got her exam results back all 2 1s which is great because this was without the extra time and computer she should have been allowed ( disability assessment came back too late for these exams) She's been suffering with her ear and waiting for her registration at her uni Dr's to go through, but in the meantime it sounds like it's cleared up of its own accord. Dd1 s uni virtually insisted they did it when they went to register for uni which seems a much better system.

@RedHelenB, well done to your DD!
I don’t think DS has been to uni practice to firm his registration yet

I caught chicken pox after my last Teaching Practice. I was 22

@Benjispruce I didn't have chicken pox as as child either and on one occasion remember half my class being away with this at primary school. I eventually caught it when I was in my thirties and was extremely ill. I was away for work for 3 weeks and my GP gave me weekly appointments so that he could check for complications, as these can be life-threatening in adults. If your dd doesn't get it over the next few years, I would recommend that she looks into vaccination.

@Springquartet I didn’t realise it could be life-threatening in adults. One of my best mates got it before me and he was covered in spots. No idea where he caught it as he didn’t do teaching

When I got chickenpox, I did have it badly, but my college nurse's dh caught it in his 40s and had it so badly he caused a smallpox scare (it was just after they thought it had been eradicated)

@Benjispruce yes potentially your DD and mine could have had it subclinically. However, I think you are right that we should look at vaccinating against it @Springquartet.

One of DS's primary school friends had it in Year 6 - it was dreadful and I recall she was off school for two weeks, so I can understand how it might be life-threatening in adults.

I am amazed at people not getting chicken pox and not being immune. I thought it was highly contagious. Will ask at GP.

DD has had chicken pox twice. The first time she had it so mildly it didn't make her immune. The second time was when she was 9, and she was really quite poorly with it. She has several chicken pox scars.

She currently has a very sore throat and cough.

DD2's come home saying with relish that one of her class is apparently off being tested for coronavirus.
She was most put out when I said I didn't think there was much chance of them having the next fortnight off for quarantine.

I also said that schools shouldn't be closing. Because what happens is 1500 pupils go home and think "what shall I do? I know - who wants to go shopping/bowing/cinema etc?" and spread it further.
Rather than shutting they should quarantine everyone inside the school, which would stop it spreading further. She thinks this is an immensely bad idea.

Ds is making a pathetic attempt to cough.

Dd2 caught chickenpox at 13 months and then got secondary infections (Strep and Staph) leading to septicaemia. She was hospitalised. This is the same one who caught a mystery virus causing brain inflammation in December and now is being dosed up on anti-seizure meds! She is still mainly off school but has taught herself a Shakespeare play and handed in an essay (about a month late). She got a 9! So proud of her - though she’s managed nothing else of her other 9 GCSE subjects.

Chickenpox kills more people in this country than mumps or measles. There’s a vaccine you can pay for privately. In Australia they vaccinate against chickenpox routinely.

Dd1 spent most of last term with one virus or another and has been well all term! She reckons she has had most bugs so far but was a bit freaked out having to barge through reporters to get to uni when that first student plus family member (from York) were sent to Newcastle RVI with Covid-19. Those two have thankfully made a full recovery and have been released.