Chicken pox - I haven’t had it, what do I do?

[La1ka]

Hello,

I haven’t had chicken pox and know that as an adult it can be very dangerous. I want my child to have it when young and build that immunity, so what do I do? Do I just risk it? Has anyone been in this position, what did you do? How did you find it?

Thanks

you can pay for immunisations if you want and then you shouldn't get it

Have you been tested to make sure you haven't had it?

DH can't make antibodies for chicken pox and has had it 4 times that I know of, the 4th time he ended up with meningitis. It can be bloody nasty in grown ups.

If you don't want to get, get vaccinated.

I had it as an adult, I cried for first 3 days and wished someone would just put me to sleep for a week. And mine wasn't a serious case.

It's really grim, get a vaccine!

As an adult who hasn't had it you can speak to your GP as they may well vaccinate you. If not just get it done privately and do so for your child too. The U.K. is one of the only developed countries in the world that doesn't have chicken pox vaccination as part of it's childhood vaccination programme.

I had it in my late 20s and gave it to my flat mate. Neither of us was particularly ill. Also gave it to my then bf who was very ill. I didn't know you could get a vaccination.

I’d vaccinate.

As an adult, I would get the vaccination. This is exactly why I wouldn't get the vaccination though for my child (I work in public health and am very pro vax). The current jab does not necessarily offer lifetime immunity. So many children being vaccinated now will be in your situation in 20-30 years time, without regular boosters. In your situation, yes, I'd get the jab.

But I would add that keep in mind you will need another likely as you approach 50-60, but the NHS tends to start offering the jab around then for shingles anyway.

Get a vaccine, and do the same for your child. In the U.K. you have to pay for it but providing you can afford it then there’s absolutely no need for either you or your child to suffer with it.

DD and I had it at the same time. I was 36, she was 9 months. She seemed fine in herself but I felt rough for about 2 or 3 days; it was flu type symptoms which eased once the spots were fully out.
I was tested when pregnant to see if I was immune which I wasn't.

I didn’t have it as a child so when my kids got it, so did I.

It wasn’t pleasant but for me, not life threatening. I was more worried when I was exposed to c pox at 38 weeks pregnant.

My sil got vaccinated privately because she hadn’t had it either and works in a preschool.

I think it cost about £100.

Boots charges £140 for the 2 doses

I have shingles my baby has been vaccinated thankfully.

It’s awful.

I thought I'd never had it but was exposed to it when I was pregnant. A blood test showed I had immunity.

I haven’t had chickenpox and I’m in my 60s now. I was terrified when my children had it one was really poorly. My best friend at school, same age hadn’t had it either but got it from her son and was really poorly.
I would have the vaccine it’ll save a lot of worry ,and a potentially awful illness.