Chicken pox immunisation???

[mumma of 2]

I have had some people tell me that i should give my 3 year old daughter the chicken pox immunistion but i don't know what i should do cause in my day parents exposed there children to it to get it.

what are your thoughts???
Sheridan

[Mamaduke]

I am just about to get Lucas immunised against chicken pox and it was suggested that Jesse (4) be immunised also.
Here is a fact sheet on chicken pox and the vaccine.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Chickenpox_vaccine?OpenDocument

[bubbles28]

THe vacc is free for my DS when he turns 18mths but I am going to get him immunised earlier. You can pay to get it done from 12mths. I got chicken pox 3yrs ago from working in childcare and got several scars from it. I don't want my son to catch it. THe doc said 5-10% of people still catch it even when they are immunised.

[Cheekychops]

My advice would be - get it done!!! I had both my boys vaccinated and they have been with kids that had it and .... nothing! Apparently some kids/people still get it, but it's very very mild usually, but mine have had nothing yet. I think it cost me $50 each, but I got it all back by my private health insurance.....people exposed their kids to it so they would get it when they were little, cause if you get it when you are adult it can get very nasty and even go internal!!! Not nice at all.....IMO why not give them a needle for it and hopefully they won't even get any pox at all. I would do it again if I had more kids - not that i'm going to :D

[sarah81]

I say get it done too. I got chicken pox when I was 20 and it was awful. I wouldn't want my child to feel like that if I could prevent it. I was quite unwell and I have scarring even though I was very, very careful not to scratch.

I had DS1 immunised against it before 18months and also recevied a rebate from by private health insurance.

[reAllytee]

My opinion is that you should get it done.
Yes back in the day children were exposed to it but not all kids come out of this the happy healthy child they were before.
Not every child has the immune system to fight it.
Yes you can still get it even after immunisation but it is in a very mild form that will have the child running around back to normal in no time as compared to without being vaccinated.
It is your call so yes ask others advice but also look up what you can online & read both sides to make an informed decision.
Good luck :)

[bronny-jane]

my nephew is 8 and he caught chicken pox, all was fine then he woke up with a swollen knee, some kind of arthritis that was a complication from chicken pox, 1 month later he still having trouble with his knee.

[Kaycee]

I didn't get it done because of the cost (not an issue now, I know) and I was a bit cynical of the drug companies finding all these everyday illnesses to immunise against now that they have the big ones covered. Also I was worried that because it is a new one, I wonder if they know how long the immunity lasts. If it runs out will they get it as an adult that can be a lot worse, especially whilst pregnant - danger to baby.

However.....

My DDs both have chicken pox ATM and they are so miserable. I can't brush their hair because they have it on their scalp. The older one can't eat because they are in her mouth. She can't pee because they are on her vulva. Both girls are constantly itchy, sore and miserable.

I made the right decision for me at the time, but I have a tiny little regret that they are going through this when it is preventable. I guess no one likes to see their child sick.

Oh well, at least they won't get it again.

[reAllytee]

Oh well, at least they won't get it again.


Sorry to be a wet blanket but they can get it again :(
My uncle had it 3 times when little before getting shingles at the age of 50yrs !
Very rare i know but it is possible !

[sugar n spice]

My son had it and my youngest will have it for free when he is 18mnths the reason i immunised is i had it when i was preg at 17 and it was bloody awful, id rather not see them suffer or end up with it when there adults.

[shanz]

I know if i take the time to read up i'll find the answer but thought it might be easier to ask you clever ladies. "DOES THE VACCINE WEAR OFF" ie. we all got vaccinated against Measles at school but it is recommended that before getting pregnant you get tested to check you immunity as it can wear off, or so i have been told. So if you get your child immunised against chicken pox will you then have to re test and re immunise in years to come or will it be forgotten and when the reach adult hood it will have worn off and then they will get it.:confused:

[Kaycee]

Shanz, that was one of my concerns too. I'm just guessing that maybe it hasn't been around long enough for them to know. There are never any gaurantees anyway. But then there are no garantees even if they get the illness. You could ask your local pharmacist I guess.

Maybe in the future they will add immunity to CP to the ante-natal blood screen like they do with rubella.

[kuz78au]

I haven't had it ever (the virus) and am considering getting one for myself when I get my boy immunised for it. I think better to be safe than sorry. And sure they can get it still but I think it would help their immune system build up the anti-bodies....but as for me, it will be very interesting to see what reaction I have to it!! Eeek! :o I hate needles!

[littlepickle]

I would definitely get it done, my cousins little boy got chicken pox really badly, it ended up on his brain (or fluid on the brain as a result) and he was put into intensive care due to seizures etc, it was very scary and thankfully he is ok now but the doctor said that this can happen in extreme cases - i wouldnt like to take the chance

[mumma of 2]

Sorry it has taken me this long to get back to all the messages from you all.

Thank you for all your help i am going to get it done the cost doesn't worry me as i would sell things on ebay if i had to any thing for my kids

Thank you once again
Sheridan:yelclap:

[3boys1girl]

Hi
Chicken pox vaccinination does not prevent chickenpox, but they will get a less severe case of it. It also prevent shingles later in life. Its free:yelclap:
Chicken pox can be awful for kids so I suggest you get it, but its your child so you have do do what you think is the best!
Good Luck!

[sugar n spice]

the reasen i had my sun immunised as i got it as a 17 yr old and i don't want that to happen to him, personally i don't want my sons to have to suffer chicken pox.

[DjF]

Hi there - i thought you could get chicken pox no matter what? I didnt have it when i was little - but i had the biggest misfortune of having it a year ago - i had to take 3 weeks off work, they thought i was getting menningitis(sp?) it was awful, the sickest ive felt my whole life. Isnt it better to have it as a child and let your body (or childs!) build 'immunity' to it, or at least get it over and done with? Its not like you will never get it - vaccination is just 'putting it off' isnt it?:confused:

[reAllytee]

DjF - Yes some kids can build an immunity but others cannot its all good & well to say we should leave it to nature but what happens when nature decides that your baby will be the one that has no immunity & becomes very ill.
My uncle had chicken pox something like 4 or 5 times & then as an adult ended up with shingles twice :eek: not much fun in that he almost died when younger. So even when you get it there is no sure fire immunity to it. Its a risk either way & only a decision a parent can make on their own beliefs or their own research.
I just wouldnt take the chance.
Good luck with your decisions for any of you pondering which way to go i wish you all the best whatever you choose :D

[TwoBlue]

vaccination is just 'putting it off' isnt it?:confused:


My GP advised that there will be a booster available in about 6-7 years and this, coupled with the vacc. now, will then protect our kids completely

i have decided to get my boys vacc'd

[Cade's Mum]

I just got the script for it the other day and am taking Cade to be vaccinated next week - I contracted it when I was 21 and my mother did when she was 50. I know it is worse when you are older but I don't Cade going through that, and it spreads like wildfire through daycare centres. !!!

Natalie:D

[sunnyflower]

i would definately get your children immunised even if you have to pay for it.the statstistics in australia are that 7 children in aust die every year as a result of complications of chicken pox and 1500 children are hospitilised.

many mums are under the impression it's just a minor illness,better to let the kids get.i wish the government would do more advertising and tell mums the full story.at least the vaccine is available free for some age groups.

[jessgray]

i watched my younger brother and sister sit in hospitial when they got the chicken pox. at one stage was drifting in and out of unconsciousness (sorry cant spell lol)
he is fine now as is my sister. when my son gets the chicken pox needle DP will also be getting it coz he isnt immune to it but i am.

[mumof03]

If you can get it for free, then get it done, but I woudn't pay for it. Every single person I know that has had the vaccination, has got the chicken pox, and not just mild cases. My neice had it so severe, it even amazed the doctor and he started wondering if the vaccine even works. She had them down the back of her throat, on the inside of her mouth, on her tongue and she even had them right up inside her vagina. She couldn't eat or drink because they were so sore, and she screamed in pain every time she went to the toilet. So you don't just get a mild case of them if you have been vaccinated against them.
Like I said, every one of the 23 people I know who has been vaccinated against chicken pox, has got the chicken pox.

[pumpkin]

my childrena re all full yimmunised yet they have never had the chicken pox vacc and also have never had a case of chicken pox eldest is 7 so i wont be giving it to them as they do not really come into contact with any people etc that have it or have symptoms etc.

[the_queen]

I won't be having Vallerie or the new baby vax'd against it.
:thumbsup:

[jessgray]

Shanz, that was one of my concerns too. I'm just guessing that maybe it hasn't been around long enough for them to know. There are never any gaurantees anyway. But then there are no garantees even if they get the illness. You could ask your local pharmacist I guess.

Maybe in the future they will add immunity to CP to the ante-natal blood screen like they do with rubella.
i was checked for immunity to chciken pox with this pregnancy and my 1st pregancy its called varcerella or something on the sheet.