Chicken pox vaccine for toddler and impact on newborn

[LazyMumOfTwo]

Hi all

I am planning to get the chicken pox vaccine for DS who is 2.5 but am concerned about how this might affect my DD who is just 2 months old.

As it is a live virus, I am worried that my DD may catch it and how it would affect her. I don’t think children under the age of 1 can get the vaccine - correct me if I’m wrong.

I did initially think of getting DS vaccinated just before we go away on holiday in October when DD is about 6 months old but have recently been told of a case of chicken pox at the nursery DS attends (in a different classroom).

Has anyone been in a similar situation? If so, what did you do?

Thank you in advance!

It is live, but it’s attenuated, which means it’s a weaker form. Getting your toddler vaccinated will hopefully protect your little one too.

I had DS vaccinated last summer. When he had his first jab, DD was 5 months old. It barely affected DS let alone DD 😊 I'm sure baby will be absolutely fine!

Thank you @DustyLee123 and @TeddyBeans !

I spoke with a pharmacist today and was advised that DD could only get chicken pox from DS is if DS actually had chicken pox. He said there is no risk of her catching it from DS because of the vaccine.

Both your comments and the conversation with your pharmacist have been really reassuring and I have now scheduled the first dose! Fingers crossed DS will not react too badly from finding out he will be getting a jab 🤞🏼

Take a packet of sweets or chocolate with you as a distraction would be my recommendation! He'll soon forget about having the jab 😁

We got DC1 vaccinated when she was turning 4, DC2 was not vaccinated as he was not old enough. He was about 8 months old at the time.

DC2 had what we think was likely chicken pox around the time he turned 2, but we weren't totally sure as it was extremely mild. Like he had about 3 spots total, they didn't clearly scab the way we'd expected, etc. But he was unwell with fever etc for a few days before the spots appeared, there was an outbreak in his room at nursery at the time. So we figured this was the most likely explanation and the practice nurse looked at photos and although was not totally sure agreed it was likely.

I do wonder whether possibly DC1 shedding virus slightly after her vaccination course helped DC2's immunity and hence why he had it sooo mildly? But just a theory.