Travel and chicken pox

[traytablestowed]

I've got a holiday booked in a few weeks and my DD (2) hasn't had chicken pox yet. It's doing the rounds locally so I'm worried that she will get it and not be able to fly. I checked the airline policy (easyJet) and they state you can't fly until 7 days after the appearance of the last spot. So now I'm worried that she will get it before we go and we might have to stay home. Or she could also get it whilst we're away, meaning we'd have to stay out there longer.
So I'm looking for travel insurance to cover either/both of these eventualities - does anyone know what type of cover this would be? Or have experience of this scenario?
I've been looking forward to our first holiday so much but now can't stop worrying about this! If it happens, it happens but for peace of mind I just want some kind of insurance against the potential costs.

You should have travel insurance every time you go not just when you think you might get chicken pox. If someone has an accident how will you pay???

all good quality travel insurance covers cancellation, medical etc.

do a comparison site and look at the medical and cancellation values and choose the ones you think you would need.

Is she in nursery because you work? Because if not I'd consider just staying home for the week before going.

Oh right sorry, I do get what you mean! Used to have annual cover when it was just me and DH but we've not been away since before covid so a bit out of practice! Plus tbh I never looked too closely at the wording before.
Is it something that is normally covered in general? I don't know what I'm looking for - cover for the eventuality of a viral disease meaning we're not permitted to travel based on the airlines own rules. Would that just be classed as a valid medical reason for cancellation?

Yes she's in nursery cos we both work, and also it occurred to me that with the incubation period she might already have it?? And it not be showing yet.
Now I'm kicking myself for booking a trip around bloody chicken pox season!

Would you consider the chicken pox vaccine? We’ve had it for DS and it’s good to have one less thing to worry about.

If she’s already been exposed to it, the effectiveness of the vaccine will depend on how long ago she was exposed.

Incubation period can be up to 21 days! My 3 year old had it 2 weeks ago, all cleared up but now I’m worried about my 7 month old! We’re due to go on holiday on Saturday but within the UK.

To be honest we talked about it but didn't end up going ahead - wish we had now. I think it's probably too late to get it before the holiday, but if she doesn't end up getting it this time I'll probably get her the vaccine when we're back

Get the vaccine ASAP. Not only will it give you some peace of mind re your holiday, but also on an ongoing basis.

The course is two doses, but even the first on its own is pretty effective.

Boots/Superdrug/independent pharmacies do it.

And do get travel insurance sorted today too!

Oh god what a nightmare! One of the many things to file under "things that were completely off my radar previously that I worry about excessively since having kids"

Why didn't you take out insurance when you booked the holiday?

I mean honestly - I just didn't get round to it. Hindsight!

Just get normal travel insurance that covers illness/medical emergencies. They don't include a long list of what illnesses they cover.

And next time book insurance as soon as you book the holiday.

Get insurance NOW. And book her a vaccine.

Thanks everyone! I've just sorted the insurance, will look into the vaccine now

Get her vaccinated asap. It will give her protection and also potentially reduce the illness if she does catch it. The first dose is pretty effective.

All of you who have mentioned the vaccine - did your little ones have side effects with it? And if yes, when did they appear?

As above, vaccine, and travel insurance.

But also... I didn't realise chicken pox had a "season", and secondly she might not get it even if it's doing the rounds. I wouldn't worry about something that hasn't even happened yet!

No side effects at all, like it never happened.

Definitely get the vaccine. DD had a few spots right after getting it (so don't get immediately before you travel) but they cleared up within a few days. No other side effects at all. The first dose is already 70% effective and can even prevent or greatly reduce the illness if she's already been exposed.

Also, and not meant to be goady, unless your child is obviously full of spots, how would the airline even know? 7 days after the final spot seems extremely over the top. If the child is well enough to travel and the spots have crusted over then why worry? 99% of the adult population is immune already and if covid taught us anything, then those who really don't want to catch it would have gotten the vaccine anyway.

No side effects whatsoever. And DS was unwell after each of his other routine vaccinations.

No side effects here either

Both of my kids are vaccinated, no side effects. Nearly all of my son's class have had chicken pox over the past couple of months. A few weeks ago he came out in 5 spots on his tummy, no other symptoms, and they disappeared in a couple of days. So I think he did have a very mild case of it.

No side effects, and so far been effective, she's been exposed a few times and not caught it

We vaccinated my youngest son as last year he was exposed to chickenpox at nursery before we flew to Spain and I was on pox watch all holiday. Luckily he didn't catch it but it still made me stressed.

We decided to vaccinate and got a next day slot at Boots (tends to be the larger stores), no side effects and worth the £140 plus you even get advantage points with it.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, appreciate it. Will discuss the vaccine with DH after work