To chicken pox or not to chicken pox?

[MumApr18]

DC has a friend with chicken pox. I remember when I was young there used to be "chicken pox parties" so everyone could get it out the way. Is this still a thing?

I'm pregnant with DC2 (I've had it so I've read it's safe for me to be around chicken pox)...should I perhaps let DC1 get chicken pox before a DC2 comes along? Or wait and do both of them together?

No I wouldn't do it. And getting chicken pox under 1 year can lead to a higher chance of childhood shingles

I wouldn't try to deliberately infect him, obviously he is going to get it at some point and serious complications are very rare, but if he was unlucky and ended up in hospital because he was deliberately infected how would you feel?

Our experience of chicken pox was horrific. Based on that my youngest will be getting the vaccine. My two sons had it so badly a few years ago hhehbwere covered head to toe and so poorly with it. They’re covered in awful scars. I really wouldn’t want to deliberately expose a child after that.

I wouldn't knowingly infect my dc with chicken pox. It's an illness that is uncomfortable at best. Dangerous at worst.

Lots of countries vaccinate against chicken pox. It doesn't have to be an inevitable part of childhood.

Absolutely not. You might “get it out of the way” or your child may be seriously unwell as permanently affected by the illness. Or get it twice. Awful idea.

GET HIM VACCINATED

Don’t be so fucking stupid and irresponsible?

Why on earth would you want to deliberately infect your child with ANYTHING?

Your main job is to protect them.

Children are hospitalised and even die from CP. Get them vaccinated and maybe some parenting lessons

Thanks everyone - will avoid it then! I had thought it was just an illness that the majority of children underwent and once they have had it, it's done. I didn't realise that the complications meant that it should be avoided if possible! My DC is in nursery so he's very likely to come across it (in fact, the friend that has it is a nursery friend) but I won't send him round there deliberately.

Thanks for the advice.

Oh and with regards to the vaccinations, I've asked at the GP and it's not something offered on the NHS. He's up to date on all other vaccinations.

I haven't heard that it's routine in the UK to have your child vaccinated against chicken pox routinely, or is it? I've seen some countries like Australia offer it as part of their health service but it's not common in the UK?

My daughter caught chicken pox from her older sister when she was 18 months old. She was so poorly that she spent three nights in hospital with an iv drip. It was horrendous but I'm so glad that she caught it naturally not because I had taken her to a "chicken pox" party. I would now welcome a vaccine for our children to stop others going through what we went through.

Most of Europe have it on the vaccine schedule. Both of my DDs have been vaccinated and I rest easy because it was money well spent to avoid weeks of discomfort with possible scarring/complications

It’s not available on the NHS. You would have to arrange it privately.

Interesting regarding the vaccine. The NHS website seems to suggest that it isn't routinely given as chickenpox is generally a "mild illness, especially in children".

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/why-are-children-in-the-uk-not-vaccinated-against-chickenpox/

I paid a lot of money for my DD to get the chicken pox vaccination. Money well spent.

@MumApr18 you can contact your GP and they will order it in. Your child must be well and no temperature at the time of vaccination. It's a live vaccine. Also boots the chemist will administer the vaccine as well. I think the cost was around £100 maybe £120. I think Boots is a bit more expensive than the GP so might be worth contacting both. No, NHS don't offer it, because they see it as relatively mild on the whole and it was cost a fortune to add it to their schedule so I was told.

I had it as an adult, it wiped me out for two weeks. I wish there had been a vaccine I could have been given as a child.

I also paid to get my children vaccinated against chicken pox.

I couldn’t stand the thought of them getting really ill and itchy and being scarred. It was cheaper than taking the time off work too!

Chicken pox can be mild but it can be awful. I didn’t want to risk it,

Thanks @loveautum. I may need to take a trip back to the GP as my son falls into the category of people who should get the vaccine on the NHS as I have a weakened immune system due to illness.

We vaccinated DS privately and I'm so glad we did as he spent all day playing with his cousin the day before their spots came out so he would almost definitely have caught it otherwise.
For most children it's a mild illness, but why take the chance when the vaccine is available? Also when we made the decision we were slightly selfishly thinking of what a pain it would be to have to take leave from work for a week or two to stay at home with an itchy child.

Ah ok, then definitely get him vaccinated. My little one was vaccinated around 14 or 15 months with no side effects. The only annoying thing was it was during the winter so had to keep rearranging due to various cold that caused a few temperatures. If you can get your DC done soon during the summer months then ideal. They don't want them to have a temperature because the vaccine doesn't work or is less effective as the body is fighting the cold.

Get him vaccinated. The reason it's not part of the vaccination schedule is mainly due to cost to the nhs and to a lesser extent the fact that during the last consultation on the subject the public was already squeamish about the 3 in 1 mmr vaccine and there was concern that adding in chicken pox to the vaccination schedule would reduce uptake of mmr. The decision the government has taken to not vaccinate children against chicken pox is not primarily due to your child's welfare.

Chicken pox is generally mild, but it absolutely does kill people, particularly if it is caught as an adult. Even milder cases can be desperately unpleasant for the child and leave them visibly scarred. Almost all other developed nations give it as standard. If you can afford it, vaccinate your child.

Thanks all - I will look into vaccination. We should be entitled to it on the NHS but, if not, I'll go the private route. I'll need to do a bit more reading as I do think there may be truth to what it says on the NHS website about the prevalence of childhood chicken pox vaccinations increasing the prevalence/severity of shingles in adults. Personally I've known a lot more adults suffer terribly from shingles than children suffer terribly from chicken pox.

Speaking with family about it now and we've all had it as children young enough not to remember it but the mums in our group chat all agreed it was a pretty hellish few days/week.

I don't know if the info from a PP about 'ordering it' at your GP is correct, certainly not in all areas of the country potentially. I asked our GP to do this and of course said we'd pay as it's not a routine vaccination and they said no they don't do that full stop. Have to get it done privately so going to boots this month.

Hopefully you'll get it with no argument at your GP though OP, if your DC is at risk/has a compromised immune system x

@harper30 it looks as though they don't vaccinate people "at risk" or with weakened immune systems but vaccinate the people around them.

For example I'm pregnant but also on immunosuppressants so my son would be given the vaccine purely so he can avoid the illness and not infect me, if that makes sense, rather than the other way around? I think because it's a live vaccine it would be too risky to vaccinate the actual "at risk" people.