Urgent we need your thoughts on chickenpox

[OliviaMumsnet]

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

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

My two boys had chicken pox, very spotty but no dramas.

A vaccination could be a great way to provide 'herd-immunity' thus protecting those who could be vulnerable to the worst effects of chicken pox for example those who are immuno-suppressed.

Though of course the continuing melee over MMR will probably preclude this.

[RubySlippers]

DS had it at 11 months
he was very spotty but not too ill

general consensus was that it was better that he had it earlier rather than later

as he wasn't old enough to scratch, he didn't scar

TBH glad we have got it over and done with

wouldn't take up the offer of a vaccine for it TBH

think that there are enough to contend with at the mo'

[OliviaMumsnet]

Bump

[ChubbyScotsBurd]

As with rubella, chicken pox can have a devastating effect if contracted during pregnancy, but yet there's no vaccination regime for it. I think a vaccine would be worthwhile from this POV alone.

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

DS1 and 2 had it back in April/May this year. DS1 was absolutely fine with it (although covered in 100's of tiny spots). DS2 had fewer - but larger spots and was really miserable with it. Gave us quite a scare as DS2's spots came out about 3 weeks before my EDD for DS3 - thankfully his last spot crusted over the day before I went into labour.

Both of them have hyperpigmentation where they had a lot of their spots, although most of DS1's have gone DS2 has a lot.

I was told they'd take "months" to fade back to normal pigment.....but I'm still waiting.

I think I probably would accept the chickenpox vaccination if it were offered.

[Flier]

I think we are storing up problems for future generations be giving so many vaccines, I think our bodies should be able to build up their own immunities.
I think we already are overloading our little ones' bodies with too many immunisations.

[foxinsocks]

I'd happily have had mine vaccinated against it but I'm pro vaccination as a rule (I think spending time living in Africa does that to you ).

But I don't think there's any point introducing a vaccine when most people won't get it (I imagine it won't work then because there won't be a big enough core group of people vaccinated).

We didn't have any dangerous complications but one of mine had bad eczema and we could have done without the chicken pox on top. Also, my father had shingles at one stage and was very ill from that.

[sarahhal]

Both my boys had chickenpox at the same time when they were 2.7 and 4 months. It was very sad to see the baby with such bad spots but I am glad he had it then as it was much harder for my older boy who was covered from head to toe and just scratched and scratched The fact that the first spots arrived just as we set off to see FC on Christmas Eve made it worse .....

I would have been happy for them to have a vaccination.

[TheBlonde]

I can remember having it as a child and I did get one scar, now faded
My kids haven't had it yet

Vaccine seems unnecessary and I would probably avoid it

[bellaprincess]

My daughter got Chicken pox and got all of 10 spots!! She was lucky yes but personally I would not go for another jab for children - they have enough so early on and to be honest the majority of children contract chicken pox and have no adverse reaction and should be thought as a mild illness.

[lemonaid]

I have a friend whose perfectly healthy (no pre-existing medical issues) toddler son died from chickenpox a few years ago, so I've always been conscious of it as potentially dangerous, although my siblings and I sailed through it as children and I principally remember it as a great excuse for time off school .

I've toyed with the idea of getting DS (nearly 3) vaccinated, but have more-or-less decided to let him take his chances (he's stubbornly remained healthy through three chicken pox outbreaks so far, though) and then get him vaccinated later if he hasn't caught it before secondary school age.

If it were introduced as a standard single vaccine I'd probably take it up (given it's something I've thought about anyway), but I would feel unhappy about its being added in to the existing DTaP or MMR vaccines.

[expatinscotland]

what is the research on how long these vaccines last and how many boosters are needed?

this vaccine is routine in the US, but it used to be optional and my sister actually opted NOT to give this to her children because at the time there was no research into how many boosters would be needed, because we all know that contracting chicken pox is much, much more serious as an adult.

[Flame]

No way.

No More Vaccines.

They have too many already.

Yes, it would protect the immuno-suppressed, but it is also just firing more unnatural crap into small children's bodies.

I like natural diseases.

Maybe my thoughts would be different if my children were the immuno-suppressed ones, but I have great misgivings about the current vaccines as it is, without adding more (undoubtedly to be given to under 2s at the same time as some other jab )

[nooka]

I'm probably moving to the States where it is compulsary - it would be interesting to see their stats for chickenpox/shingles in the elderly. One suggestion is to vaccinate the elderly instead, which I thought was interesting. My two had chicken pox a couple of years ago (pre-school) and it was no big deal. I just have to try and find some proof for the US schools now! I'm not sure that now is the time for a new vaccine though as people havn't yet recovered from the MMR scare, and very few people know anyone who has had a bad time with chicken pox, so no doubt it will encourage all that "evil drugs companies rule the world" paranoia.

[poptot]

I would say no think children do need to build up their own immunity to some things.

[totaleclipse]

Ds came down with chicken pox the day I had dts, it was a severe case, he was very poorly, they were all merging together, he ended up with several open wunds all over his body, but mainly in the groin area, they were about 2 inches in diameter, he could'nt walk or sleep, it took 3 trips to A&E to finally be given antibiotics before an infection broke out.

[HaveYourselfaNortyLittleXmas]

I had a scare whilst pregnant after coming into contact with chicken pox and no-one knowing whether or not I'd had it...I was 20 weeks and very scared something could happen to my baby.

Then when DD was 3 weeks old, we came into unknown contact again and I was terrified of my tiny 6lb baby getting it.

If a vaccine was made available, I'd let DD have it.

[fluffyanimal]

Foxinsocks, why won't most people get it?

I agree with ChubbyScotsBurd about the effect of chickenpox on pregnant women, and for that reason I would be in favour of a vaccine.

[Anna8888]

My daughter (3 tomorrow) is due to have the chickenpox vaccination next Tuesday 13 November here in France. The vaccination is not officially recommended, and I think I shall have to pay for it (about 65 euros) and not be reimbursed, but I wanted my daughter to be vaccinated to avoid scarring. We have very fine skin and I scarred quite badly after chickenpox, which I caught aged 7.

My two stepsons have also had the vaccination, on the recommendation of their (very high media profile) paed. He recommends it particularly for girls because of the scarring.

My daughter's paed said that parents here in France are often motivated to get their children vaccinated against chickenpox in order to avoid having to take a fortnight off work to care for their children when they get ill.

[shrinkingsagpuss]

I worked with a teenager once who developed viral encephalitis with chicken pox and as a result was severely brain damaged. And although my DS had it and had it mildly and now its out of the way, it strikes me that if we can immunise, then we should.

I'm not convinced about putting it in with the MMR though... there are enough problems with uptake already.... so the qustion is.. when would you give it?

[expatinscotland]

i think the main problem with chicken pox here is that the system is so crap - especially now with this NHS24 business instead of a real doctor coming round or being able to see one - that complications are not caught and diagnosed early enough.

[hunkermunker]

I had it, badly - had them in my throat, etc - scar of one in my throat still itches now sometimes.

My brother didn't. He still hasn't as an adult.

I would like the boys to have it as children, but there's always that risk that they won't, they'll catch it as adults and it'll be serious or fatal.

So I'd be in favour of a vaccine.

[lemonaid]

("always" as in "stretching back to before I had children", that is, not as in actually always. It just seems like always... )