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Parenting

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Original poster

Has anyone had their child vaccinated for chickenpox?

125 replies

Tryingandhoping2020 · 30/12/2021 10:24

Pros and cons? If it works well I'd be happy to shell out to save my DD some suffering but I don't want to make it more likely she'll get it when she's older? Does it work for life?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AhhWoof · 30/12/2021 10:27

Yes, my DD3 was done around one. 2 jabs done at Boots. No 100% guarantee, but we felt it was worth it to give her the extra protection.

CottonSock · 30/12/2021 10:29

Yes as soon as I could with my 2nd.
My 1st daughter was so unwell I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Plus a week off work for me so cost wise it pays for itself!

VaguelyInteresting · 30/12/2021 10:29

Am considering it both for DS himself, and as DS’ father takes methotrexate & didn’t have it as a child, which means he could become very ill if exposed to chickenpox (via DS).

I understand it is vaccinated against in many countries now so following with interest.

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KL92xxxx · 30/12/2021 10:32

Yessss we did it, best decision ever. No worrying about it when we get an email from nursery saying it’s doing the rounds. I spoke to lots of my family with kids and they all sort of said ‘oh it’s not that bad’ and then when they recalled chickenpox stories they were actually awful.

In my opinion they bring enough home from nursery that I can’t help with, if I can stop him getting something I will!

Also he had 0 side effects to either jab.

magicstars · 30/12/2021 10:33

Yes my DS was. Happy with the decision.

I believe it's routinely offered in France.

Kitkatchunkyplease · 30/12/2021 10:33

I have just had my three year old vaccinated at boots. I think with 2 jabs it's over 90% effective and still over 75% into adulthood.
We don't have family help so would struggle if she needed to isolate. Not to mention it is a bit of a shit illness which I didn't really want her to catch.

harper30 · 30/12/2021 10:33

Yep, our daughter had it, all pros, only con was a cost involved but it's been worth it for peace of mind.

magicstars · 30/12/2021 10:33

DS is now six & has not had CP.

idontshareprimula · 30/12/2021 10:34

@magicstars

Yes my DS was. Happy with the decision.

I believe it's routinely offered in France.

And Germany, and US I believe.

It was a no brainer for me

pennysays · 30/12/2021 10:35

Yes. It seemed like a no brainer. Dc now 4.

Borracha · 30/12/2021 10:35

Offered as standard in the UAE so all of my DC have had it. I don’t actually know of any kids here who have had chicken pox.

sleepyhoglet · 30/12/2021 10:35

Didn't intend to but she got to about 4 and hadn't had it so decided to vaccinate. Cost obviously

DropYourSword · 30/12/2021 10:35

My mum was literally talking to me about this last night. She’s a wonderful mum who wouldn’t like to interfere at all but wanted to gently suggest to me I look at getting my son vaccinated for chicken pox. She’s suffered over the years with shingles and would really like my son to avoid that I guess.
Anyway, having checked his vaccination records he had it at 18 months as it’s part of the standard vaccination schedule here. He never had any issues when he received it.

LakeShoreD · 30/12/2021 10:37

It’s been standard in most other western countries for years. In the US for example it’s been on the vaccination schedule since the mid 90s. My DD had hers done when we lived in the US as it’s combined with the MMR there. My DS will have his when he turns 1. I don’t see why you’d needlessly have them suffer with chickenpox when there’s a vaccine out there. The only downside is the cost of it.

Blupblup · 30/12/2021 10:38

We did, but slightly different as she was a teenager. She hadn't caught it as a young child despite being exposed a couple of times (both my other two had it and had a handful of spots, over and done with in 5 days) and a GP friend advised to get it done if she hadn't had it by teen years as it gets more severe the older you catch it.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 30/12/2021 11:33

Yes, both DC vaccinated at Boots. I think it was £120 each. Worth it in terms of avoiding them suffering with the illness in future.

Jaffajiffy · 30/12/2021 11:39

Yes. We live in the uk and decided to jab both DS when a poor child of friends was so ill and covered in pox she couldn’t close her mouth and lay on the sofa drooling. It’s an awful illness. Both boys no problem and no sign of ever catching it so far. My nephew was also vaccinated and subsequently caught it but exceptionally mildly.

Blabla81 · 30/12/2021 11:42

I paid £140 for my then 4 year old dd to have both doses. Money very well spent. I didn’t want her to go through unnecessary suffering like my eldest did when I had no clue there was a vaccine. There was an outbreak which wiped out most of her reception class a few months later and she didn’t catch it so obviously worked well. She can choose to get boosted when she’s an adult if needed.

booboo2022 · 30/12/2021 11:45

I am considering getting my DC vaccinated. One is 12 and the other 8 and neither have caught chicken pox yet somehow. I heard that it's worse the older you get.

kokoalemon · 30/12/2021 11:47

I have the same question as the OP, does this make the vaccine more or less lifelong? I know this is a really specific question, but does it make a difference for pregnant women compared with having had the illness as a child?

Been thinking of this for years, but older DSs then got it as toddlers which was younger than I expected (not sure why I thought they’d be older!) so that was that. Was particularly horrible for DC2 but thankfully all fine in the end.

Now have younger DDs and thinking about it for them, other countries do it so can’t see why not, but just wondering if there is any kind of drawback for them. I just remember being asked about whether I had chicken pox as a child at all of my booking appointments.

sparklemagicsnow · 30/12/2021 11:49

Yes both of mine are done. They were each done as babies a month after their 1 year jabs and had both jabs (they need two for maximum protection).

Pros: They've never had chicken pox despite it going round at preschool and reception year many, many times.

Cons: I had to pay for it. They may need a booster in their late teens, if they do I will pay for that too. This may not be needed.

MsEmmeline · 30/12/2021 11:50

Is there an advantage to children who have only had very mild chicken pox of being vaccinated?

MakeTeaNotWar · 30/12/2021 11:52

I just my two vaccinated before Xmas - aged 9 and 11. Done at a local pharmacy, no issues with it and now we have peace of mind

sparklemagicsnow · 30/12/2021 11:52

@MsEmmeline

Is there an advantage to children who have only had very mild chicken pox of being vaccinated?

I don't think they will vaccinate a child who has already had it. You're asked at the appointment when you sign the consent forms.

foxgoosefinch · 30/12/2021 11:54

Yes, DD vaccinated at 3 because we have a family member who was seriously immunosuppressed after a bone marrow transplant. DD wasn’t covered by the NHS so we paid privately. No side effects or any other issues.

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