Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Urgent we need your thoughts on chickenpox

156 replies

OliviaMumsnet · 08/11/2007 12:52

We've been asked to appear on News 24 about the Chickenpox vaccine today and we just want to hear your thoughts on this.

What was your experience with chickenpox? Have you had extreme experiences with it?
We'd love to know your thoughts as always (and preferably before 2pm!)
Thanks as ever
MNHQ

OP posts:
wannaBe · 08/11/2007 14:36

long time how are you? .

edam · 08/11/2007 14:37

Slightly mad, I think your stats on the period of pregnancy in which chickenpox is dangerous may be an under-estimate - they have been revised in the light of a new, thorough review of the evidence so worth anyone who is concerned checking with NHS Direct. And it becomes an issue again in very late pregnancy just before you have your baby.

Overall still a very low risk that chickenpox will cause any harm, though.

expatinscotland · 08/11/2007 14:37

everyone ignore Fio.

MamaPyjama · 08/11/2007 14:37

They're on now. Look there's Carrie!!

slalomsuki · 08/11/2007 14:40

All mine have had it with no problems apart from general malise and some scars.

I did think about getting a single cahicken pox jab done privately for dd but the cost at the moment is high. All mine have had single jabs for MMR and I am glad I did because one reacted to the measles bit.

I say no more combination jabs, they have enough in the first 2 years

SlightlyMadStuffing · 08/11/2007 14:43

Fair comment Edam...I did point you to where I got them from, which agreed with my own investigations when DTDs had pox when I was 6wks preg - wasn't aware it had changed and the NHS direct page I looked at had a paragraph saying 'consult your Dr if you are worried' which wasn't worth linking too.

I did also acknowledge that it is v dangerous in teh last couple of weeks.

Canadiandream · 08/11/2007 14:45

In response to
Fio fio
"i dont understand who the vaccine is trying to protect. we all know, i hope, it is v bad for someone who is immuno suppressed to come into contact with chickenpox - is this what the vaccine is intended to prevent? "

I heard on R4 news this morning that the dangerous effects of CP can happen for totally "normal" children health-wise, not just those who are immuno-suppressed.

SlightlyMadStuffing · 08/11/2007 14:45

Fio I didn't ignore you. I thought about your Q and didn't have an answer....Do you want me to make somethigng up?

The government have intelligence that aliens will land on earth in 6yrs and 7m and they feear that chicekn pox will cause them to self destruct and take the whole of the planet with them in some kind of nuclear scale disaster....so we need to eradicate th disease in the next 6years before they land ....

Flame · 08/11/2007 14:45

Fio - it is to stop people getting it in general, so there is even less chance of the immuno-suppressed getting it (isn't it contagious before the spots so they can get it before you realise to keep them away iyswim)

wannaBe · 08/11/2007 14:47

am still dubious.

If you catch it mildly the first time you can get it twice.

surely giving a vaxcine is the same as giving a mild dose.

so ummunity would not be guaranteed.

wannaBe · 08/11/2007 14:48

I have had chicken pox twice.

SlightlyMadStuffing · 08/11/2007 14:53

Ooops killed that discussiuon .

Am going on school run now, so you can carry on the sensible debate

ivykaty44 · 08/11/2007 14:54

I contracted chicken pox when i was 16 weeks pg and it was rather a worrying time - no medic would tell me whether chicken pox would affect my baby in any way. Fortunately my baby did not have any effects from me contracting chicken pox and is now 15 years old.

So I would be in agreement with a chicken pox vaccine.

SaintGeorge · 08/11/2007 14:58

I have no natural immunity to chicken pox and have had it multiple times. In later years they have been mild cases, but I had pretty severe complications the first time I had it.

I am generally anti-vaccination, certainly the ridiculous number of them now seen as routine. I don't think yet another vaccine becoming available is going to change my mind.

francagoestohollywood · 08/11/2007 15:06

I haven't made up my mind yet. Ds had it very mild it. I caught it as an adult and I was very ill. I actually didn't know it could be dangerous for pg women.

SaintGeorge · 08/11/2007 15:09

First weeks (ie when unlikely to even know you are pregnant) and at delivery are the dangerous times.

Immunoglobulin is available to maternity wards so newborns can be protected if there is a possibility of infection.

Peachy · 08/11/2007 15:10

DS's all ahd it a few eyars back, ds3 was only a few months old and so we were quite worried at the time. but on balance I dont think I would immunise- having a family history of autism and being aware of potential for vaccine overload inclines me towards restricting immunisations to illnesses that are more severely risky than chickenpox. I'm not an anti MMR person, but on balance for my family 9and I am thinking the new baby) it wouldn't be a choice I would make

HeadHeartorHormones · 08/11/2007 15:11

We had to cancel our summer holiday because though no longer infectious I was told we'd be refused or quarantined for displaying spots.

I was under the impression the vaccine may not give life-long immunity. If this is so, it does not seem particularly attractive route to go down.

Tortington · 08/11/2007 15:18

balls missed the dealine - not read thread but wanted to say that i think the vaccine is completely unecessary, 5 children died last year - and whilst tragic - statistically i personally do not rhink that this warrents such a huge investment

i heard a doctor on jeremy vine say that its either all or nothing
half hearted shit won't work - it will just push the age of chicken pox upwards - and its actually more dangerous when we get older.

so i think its a big waste of time - esp since the MMR scandles and to be quite honest i have distrust of the whole system but would vaccinate my children as my mother was a nurse and she had great influence over telling me the horrors of supposed "childhood" diseases.

so there is the marketing to think of to be honest - i cant see why they are fucking about with something that a lot of people distrust in the first place - and which would have a negligable effect at most and a tragic effect at worst - older people dying - many more than 5

Peachy · 08/11/2007 15:39

Flame I was the same with the hep, I was keyworkeringa disabled chap who was Hep positive and a spitter at the time, fortuantely I was lucky.

edam · 08/11/2007 15:43

Slightlymad, I wasn't having a go! Just concerned to point out dangers last for a bit longer than was previously thought.

robin3 · 08/11/2007 15:47

DS1 (3.5 yrs at time) got it first and you'd hardly know he was sick. DS2 got it (1 yr at time) and was so ill. It was the first time I've had to take either child to the hospital and he screamed so long and was got so distressed we took him in the middle of the night. I think it's impact can be underestimated BUT all that said I don't think we need another vaccine. Our kids are already being messed around with as it is.

So they eradicate another disease...another stronger virus will always come along to replace it.

lemonaid · 08/11/2007 15:54

Of course it's desperately sad for those families (although I wonder whether doctors failing to pick up secondary infections played a part?)

I heard on R4 news this morning that the dangerous effects of CP can happen for totally "normal" children health-wise, not just those who are immuno-suppressed.

That was the case for my friend's toddler who died. He was perfectly normal, medically, seemed to be coping absolutely fine with chicken pox (no other symptoms that you would expect anyone to pick up) then just collapsed.

Meeely2 · 08/11/2007 15:57

I think it weakens the chest - it's certainly what happened to my LO - as the spots can spread internally. So he got this ostio thingermebob infection between skin and sternum - no idea what would have happened if the doctors had continued to ignore me - shudder to think, luckily paed was on the ball and got him treated.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 08/11/2007 17:43

I'm concerned with the lack of information regarding how long the vax would last. Would there be an increase in adult cases - does a vax mean you are then vulnerable to shingles or does it not work in the same way? If you get CP as a child and are then re-exposed that boosts your immunity doesn't it? But there will be little in the community so natural boosters won't happen.

I agree with edam (much further down) that although those 6 deaths are tragic that is a very tiny proportion of the number of children who get chickenpox. A recently quoted figure of 20 adult deaths is a much greater figure considering the smaller numbers contracting the disease. I think it's worth considering vaccination if you get to say 16 without having it. And educating the medical profession in spotting complications early. dd had anti-b's after getting a secondary infection with CP four months post open heart surgery.

I had it as a pregnant adult. It was grim.

Swipe left for the next trending thread