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Original poster

Time off work - chickenpox

24 replies

Stargirl2707 · 19/11/2022 23:01

I’m full time teacher, with a little one who’s just turned 3. I think they’re in the early stages of catching chickenpox and I’m anxious about needing to take time off. I’m sure work will be supportive, but obviously my little one will need to stay home and can’t go to childcare for what will be the best part of a full week.
What did anyone else do? Feel it’s risky sending them to grandparents due to their own age/vulnerability.

Were your work ok? Was it unpaid leave in the end?

OP posts:
Newpuppymummy · 19/11/2022 23:03

I had to take unpaid leave and my headteacher was vile to me. I’m a single parent and my kids got it one after the other. Hope you have better luck.

Allsnotwell · 19/11/2022 23:06

Friend - single parent has to have two weeks off unpaid - she struggled the following month /

Dis you not consider the vaccine?

tenbob · 19/11/2022 23:08

Getting the vaccine after exposure is really effective at lessening the severity of it

Not as good as getting it done before they catch it but could shorten the amount of time she is unwell and therefore time you need off

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Original poster
Stargirl2707 · 20/11/2022 03:05

I wasn’t aware there was a vaccine until reading up on it this evening. I’ve usually accepted any vaccinations offered but pretty certain this hasn’t been offered to us. X

OP posts:
Fucket · 20/11/2022 03:19

The vaccine is not on the UK vaccine schedule but you will find a fair few countries do make their kids have the vaccine.

you can find many private clinics who offer it.

I always say this on chickenpox threads, it’s safe, fully tested, needs 1 jab and then a booster. The reason it’s not on the schedule is because wild chickenpox keeps shingles at bay in our elderly population.

anecdotal evidence from my kids says the vaccine works. Had them playing with their cousin who was isolating with chickenpox in the height of his infection and they never caught it.

I figured the cost of the jabs was cheaper than unpaid leave. And yes get the vaccine now and you may save some suffering in your little one.

silkybutton · 20/11/2022 08:46

I had to take unpaid leave for a week

silkybutton · 20/11/2022 08:46

I also wasn't aware of the vaccine wish the nhs would at least make you aware even if it's a private option!

Jules912 · 20/11/2022 09:11

Do you have a partner? When DS had it we split the time off so was only a few days each.
When DD got it ( different time) it was summer holidays and I happened to be on leave anyway, which was lucky as DH was on a business trip.

Fifthtimelucky · 20/11/2022 11:00

Fucket · 20/11/2022 03:19

The vaccine is not on the UK vaccine schedule but you will find a fair few countries do make their kids have the vaccine.

you can find many private clinics who offer it.

I always say this on chickenpox threads, it’s safe, fully tested, needs 1 jab and then a booster. The reason it’s not on the schedule is because wild chickenpox keeps shingles at bay in our elderly population.

anecdotal evidence from my kids says the vaccine works. Had them playing with their cousin who was isolating with chickenpox in the height of his infection and they never caught it.

I figured the cost of the jabs was cheaper than unpaid leave. And yes get the vaccine now and you may save some suffering in your little one.

I'm interested in what you say about keeping shingles at bay. I thought that you could only get shingles if you had already had chicken pox.

I'd have thought that if everyone was vaccinated against chicken pox, shingles would eventually die out.

What am I missing?

NoIncomeTaxNoVAT · 20/11/2022 11:08

Stargirl2707 · 20/11/2022 03:05

I wasn’t aware there was a vaccine until reading up on it this evening. I’ve usually accepted any vaccinations offered but pretty certain this hasn’t been offered to us. X

The vaccine isn't available on the NHS so you wont have been offered it, but you can get it at Boots. £75 per jab and the full course is 2 jabs at least 6 weeks apart. Hope you little one isn't suffering too badly.

Walrus6 · 20/11/2022 12:10

The chicken pox vaccine isn’t currently available due to being in such short supply. And it might work well after exposure, but could not be given once the child has actually become infected.

@Stargirl2707 you mention asking grandparents to help but worried about their vulnerability. The NHS website is very clear that you cannot catch shingles from someone who has chicken pox. So as long as they have had chicken pox before there shouldn’t be a problem.

Walrus6 · 20/11/2022 12:15

@Fifthtimelucky This is how it was explained to me… having chicken pox circulating in the population gives adult immune systems a tiny ‘boost’ against shingles each time they are exposed in small quantities (eg touching something which has been touched by someone infected). If chicken pox stops circulating, those tiny boosts stop and it means the body is more vulnerable to more severe cases of shingles.

There is an programme to vaccinate 70+ adults against shingles. Once that has taken effect, the risk of removing chicken pox from widespread circulation subsided and so a vaccine could be considered.

I had my first DC vaccinated against chicken pox and I will have my second too if they haven’t already caught it once it’s available again.

Fifthtimelucky · 20/11/2022 12:23

Thanks @Walrus6 that's really interesting.

Like most people, I had chicken pox as a child but despite my best efforts neither of my children did (well, one definitely didn't and one once had one spot and I was never sure if it was chicken pox or not)!

I have been wondering whether to advise them to get the vaccine now (they are both adults). Someone I know had a miscarriage when she caught chicken pox from her toddler, so ever since I've been conscious of the dangers of catching it as an adult.

IWantItThatWay002 · 20/11/2022 12:29

We paid to vaccinate DC as we both cannot afford all the time off nursery. We'd be off unpaid as grandparents have illnesses causing weaker immune systems.

It's the best £150 spent as nursery have had 3 different instances & so far, DC hasn't caught anything. Touch wood

megletthesecond · 20/11/2022 12:32

Unpaid leave here too.

NancyJoan · 20/11/2022 12:36

If grandparents have had it, there’s no particular risk to them, but if your DC is feeling really rotten you may wish to be home with them.

Roomba · 20/11/2022 12:46

I had to take unpaid leave to look after DS1 when he had it. This, and the way DS1 suffered horribly with it, meant I booked DS2 in for a vaccine as soon as he was old enough and I could afford it. Cheaper than losing two weeks' pay.

Guess who caught chickenpox three days before his first vaccine appointment? 😄 Luckily, DS2 had it very mildly and I only had to take three days off work plus my normal weekend off.

NerrSnerr · 20/11/2022 12:49

Is his dad around to share the time off? I don't know anyone who gave their child the vaccine and everyone just juggled the best we could.

dimples76 · 20/11/2022 12:57

I struggled as DS had it quite badly (some of his spots became infected) so was off school for 2 weeks which came on the back of DD being off for a week. I used a combination of annual leave, worked from home a bit when DS was better but still infectious and Mum helped. My Mum and stepmother both struggled to accept the NHS website advice that you can't catch shingles from chicken pox.

MadeForThis · 20/11/2022 13:04

Grandparents will be fine. If anything it will boost their immunity and make it less likely they will catch shingles in the future.

Provided they both have already had chicken pox.

Sunnyshoeshine · 20/11/2022 13:20

Walrus6 · 20/11/2022 12:10

The chicken pox vaccine isn’t currently available due to being in such short supply. And it might work well after exposure, but could not be given once the child has actually become infected.

@Stargirl2707 you mention asking grandparents to help but worried about their vulnerability. The NHS website is very clear that you cannot catch shingles from someone who has chicken pox. So as long as they have had chicken pox before there shouldn’t be a problem.

It is now back in stock in some places. We are in London and DD had her first dose at Boots on Monday. I got an email notification telling me it was back in stock when i signed up for notifications.

Mammyloveswine · 20/11/2022 15:22

My husband worked from home/used holiday and childcare leave..when this ran out I took unpaid leave..

I'm a teacher.

user16480478 · 20/11/2022 15:30

would the grandparents be willing to look after your DC, as long as they have had chickenpox it will be fine

Walrus6 · 20/11/2022 18:15

Thanks @Sunnyshoeshine that’s good to hear

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