Chickenpox vax - facts?

[Tea Lady]

DD is due for her chickenpox vax, and I think we will have it done, but I'm less sure about this than the others she's had. I've heard a couple of concerns about it (mainly that it may "wear off" and thus expose kids to the disease when they're older) and I'm wondering if anyone has any actual facts or statistics about this.

I've done a fair bit of searching on the net about it and can't really find anything so if anyone knows of anything I'd be interested to read it. Also, I'm wondering if they do need a booster do they just need one, or do they have them on a regular basis?

Thanks :)

[~Emmylou~]

I don't have any info but I'm in the same boat.
She's had all the other vaxs but I'm just not sure about this one. She's 20 months and her doctor keeps sending me reminder letters because I still can't decide :laughing:

[bubbles28]

I chose to have my DS vac against chicken pox when he was 12mths.
I too would like to know if he will need a booster when he is older.

[RaryGirl]

I asked my Dr this question and she said it was a 10 year vac - so if parents don't remember to update in 10 years we'll have a heap of teens with chicken pox.

I decided against the needle and my DD finally got chicken pox on the week-end (she's now 8). She most disgusted as it's "ugly", but other than that we've got a mild dose.

My DH and I were talking about this last night - I agree with all the other needles but we were undecided about this one for bub #2.

[Tea Lady]

Mmmm, it's tricky. The main attraction for me is that they think it will lessen the chance of getting shingles - much nastier than chickenpox (not that ch'pox itself can't be bad enough!).

This vax has been around for quite a long time in the US so I'd expect that if the need for a booster shot was likely to be a big problem they'd know about it by now. This is a harder choice than the others though isn't it?

[jaimie]

Did anyone see the little girl on today tonight? She had chicken pox all over her body and inside too. She was on the brink of death from it..Very scary.

[4mumnbub]

ds had his 12 month vaccine...then he had measles after a month which lasted for two weeks

[shed]

Shingles is another one of those things that varies as well. DP just had it a couple of months ago and he had three spots and went and got some anti-viral tablets and it was gone. He didn't even have a day off work coz its not contagious and he felt okay.

A lady at work had it and she was off work for a week. She said it was flipping awful.

Just wanted to let you know that since you mentioned it being part of the decision making process.

Good luck.

[my_lot]

all three of my kids have had the chicken pox vaccine.

they are 9, 7 and 4 - it cost $60 per shot. ( for VARIVAX)

the information sheet i was given at the drs before the shots read this.

the chicken pox virs is found in the secretions in a persons nose and mouth. the virus is spread through coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with the fluid in the blisters. dry scaps are not infectious. a person who has never had chicken pox can become infected with chicken pox from somene with shingles, because shingles blisters contain the virus.

it said who was most at risk, side effects to look out for and info about the vaccine ect.

my eldest had a fit after her 2 month needles and was given an exemption from all immunisations. i chose to have her fully immunised. she was put in hospital for every one of them.

the chicken pox vaccine was the first we have had done at the drs. we stayed for 30min after it and she had 10 min obs done. she was fine.

she got pneumococcal disease at 19 months. it took her four years of hell to be close to the good health she had before the disease.

there is now a vaccine available for pneumococcal and its free for babies. there is a reason for this. this common childhood disease that starts with a simple ear infection can kill.

getting back to chicken pox.

i was told by doctor my youngest should not have the chicken pox vax within a month of having other vaccines that were "live" such as the MMR.


you have to look into the side effects, ask lots of questions get the print outs from drs rooms and hospital and go with what you think is right.

some info on chicken pox:

http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/ptnt/00001180.htm


http://familydoctor.org/193.xml

[AM]

One of the MAIN concerns of a LOT of non-vaxers, is that no vaccinations give life time immunity, unlike actually getting the disease, and genuinely fighting it with your immune system.
Chicken pox is one disease which you can actually get again, even if you have had it once, which in my mind, makes the vax doubly useless.

I would hazard a guess that the girl so badly affected by the chick pox may have other health issues as well, increasing her succeptibility to disease.
It is EXTEREMEY rare for chicken pox to be life threatening.

[my_lot]

I would hazard a guess that the girl so badly affected by the chick pox may have other health issues as well, increasing her succeptibility to disease.



id say that is a hazard guess!

my healthy, happy, talking,walking daughter got pneumococcal disease. there was NO other health issues that "increased her succeptibility".

[Tea Lady]

Thanks ladies. I'm pretty sure we will get it done now - especially since a family we spend a bit of time with has it and I have a few pg friends - I'd hate for DD to catch it and pass it on.

[Sheer Bliss]

Thanks ladies. I'm pretty sure we will get it done now - especially since a family we spend a bit of time with has it and I have a few pg friends - I'd hate for DD to catch it and pass it on.

That is the main reason I am definately going ahead with DD's immunisation in a few months. We have just spent the last 2 weeks staying away from pregnant friends & friends with children under the immunisation age as DD has been exposed to Chicken pox & we are waiting to see if she has them. I was terrified that she would pass them onto the other kids/pregnant women. I know that if she got them, the chances of her having a life threatening dose is very low - but what if she passed it onto a friends 1month old baby and her little body couldn't handle it? Or our pregnant friends baby had serious defects? They are contagious before you know they have it - so my worry is what you might be inflicting on others if your child does have it.

[jessgray]

i read somewhere that at age 4 the chicken pox needle requires a booster but it isnt yet goverment funded as they havent offically put it on the schedule anyone else heard this?

[tommylu]

My boys are 10,5,3 and 11 months and they are just getting over chickenpox,the older ones are immunised so they got a mild case of chickenpox but my 11mo was not so lucky,he had a fever of 38-40 for 3 days,was not a very happy baby at all !he was covered in spots poor thing :( im not sure but i think he may of got it worse because he was not immunised,luckily they are all feeling better now :D

[Tannie]

I had chickenpox at 23 yrs of age and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy :no: It was awful - I was off work for over 4 weeks and SO sick:crying:

I have had no other "childhood" diseases and I went to boarding school from young age and "tried" to catch everything each time it was going around (cause I thought it seemed good to be able to have days in the infirmary -those kids SEEMED to have such a great time...lol )

Vaccinations like this one aren't really aimed at giving lifelong immunity......they are aimed at protecting the child / person during the most susceptible time of their life........if it wears off in 10 yrs so be it - a teenager would cope better, physically adn mentally with a bout of CP......iykwim? A bit like Whooping cough - does it matter if it wears off? The vacc is just to protect people who wouldn't do well having it.......a healthy adult is not a great problem.

Oh - and just for information sake :idea: if you DO get CP - please consider donating blood in the immediate weeks afterwards (I think 4- 6 weeks) as they are always looking for "active" donations like this to give children who are immune suppressed etc and can't be vaccinated and for whom suffering a disease like CP could be fatal. If I recall - I actually donated twice over a few weeks (special exception) cause they REALLY wanted my blood cause I'd had such a bad infection and my antibodies were really high..........I was happy to "help" of course.

Anyway - of course my kids will be getting this vaccine and all others on offer.........we're currently considering giving them the Rota Virus one - it costs over $100 each dose........BUT for me, it could be money well spent! I reckon you'd spend that much on nappies or washing powder if even ONE kid got it.....:eek:

T

[Tea Lady]

i read somewhere that at age 4 the chicken pox needle requires a booster but it isnt yet goverment funded as they havent offically put it on the schedule anyone else heard this?

I asked the doctor about boosters today and he said they just don't know yet if it's needed. It's not like one day you're immune and the next you're not, so he says even if their immunity dropped they'd still probably get a milder dose of the illness.

[3boys1girl]

Im pretty sure its a life time one. I know for a fact that it covers your baby in older ages fom shingles which is a plus

[jessgray]

thanks guys :) i cant remember where i heard the talk of a possible booster.(preggy brain lol) just have to wait and see if they bring it in or not hey lol

[tera]

Well I was putting off having Emily done at 18 months. At 22 months I finally took the plunge and took her to the doctor. I was expecting her to be given 2 needles but now there is only the CP vaccine at 18 months, they have taken something off. The Dr told me she may get a mild dose of CP in the coming weeks. Well lo and behold my poor darling now has the damn things.

But i still feel it was better to get it done

Teresa

[jessgray]

my dp had a look into the chicken pox vax for adults a few months back as MIL couldnt be sure he was immune so we planned that ds and dp would get the vax at the same time just in case well, dp's dr did a blood test and dp was immune:D dp was told for adults its 2 needles and they cost $60 each. and they are given at different times like a few weeks or months apart.

[Tam-I-Am]

DD is 14 months old, and I had her vaccinated the other day. I spoke to my CHN about it, and she told me that even though children are likely to get over it more quickly, the "wild" virus is so much more dangerous than the vaccination virus - the wild virus is actually causes 5 - 10 deaths in CHILDREN per year! I was shocked. I thought chicken pox was just a standard childhood disease. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I understand that across the number of chilren in Australia, 5 - 10 deaths is very minimal. But if that were MY child who died, I would never forgive myself, that I had the opportunity to vaccinate her against something deadly.

And as far as I'm aware, the current line of thinking is that children MAY need a booster shot in their adolescence, much like the MMR vaccine, but it is unknown yet, as the CP vaccine is relatively new.

[Roxy]

DD was vaxxed...I didnt get Ds in there in time.

He currently is on Day 2 of CP :thumbsdown:

DD got a VERY mild dose this time too - she had 5 spots, but they have all gone within 3 days. DS is still hatching them.

If I could turn back the clock 3 weeks and get him vaxxed, I would. He's miserable. Even if he would have to have had a booster in 10 years time.

[Tannie]

Oh - poor thing:crying: I had CP at 23yrs and it WAS miserable.........my lifesaver was Pinetarsol - bath soak x 3 times a day and rub the cream on in between if itchy.........I think I would have gone insane without it - it stinks and looks terrible.....but it works :yelclap:

All the best and hope bub gets over it quickly.
T

[Roxy]

Thanks Tannie.

Think that I am in for a very long night. He is in pain...every time he moves or tries to roll over he screams out in pain. He can not get comfortable....he is soooo tired, he keeps telling me "I want to sleep"....

I have bought the pinetarsol oil for the bath, calamine lotion, anti-histamine etc, but dont think that they are even taking the edge off tonight.

I hope he gets over it quickly too - I hate seeing him this way when I know that I could have prevented it....:crying: :crying:

I know that there are lots of parents who choose not to vax their kids - and that is their choice. I dont condemn that....but why you would allow the chance for your kids to be so miserable? :cool: