Speaking of Chicken Pox vaccine
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive May 2005:
Speaking of Chicken Pox vaccine
In the "remember when" post someone mentioned the chicken pox vaccine. How many of you have had your children vaccinated for chicken pox? I haven't yet as I was hoping dd would get it the good ol fashion way and then be done with it. She turns 9 next month and has still not had it. I'm thinking by the time she turns 10 I might have her vaccinated if she hasn't gotten it yet. Any thoughts?
I had dd vaccinated for it after K and before 1st grade. I wanted to give her time to get the chicken pox before missing school became a bigger deal, but she never did.
Both my kids had the Chicken Pox vaccine as toddlers. It's actually required by law in my state before school admission. I had Chicken Pox in Jr. High and missed 2 straight weeks of school. I have vivid memories of how AWFUL it was and do not want my kids to have to go through that.
My older 2 kids have had the chicken pox vaccine. Faith has not got it yet, I think she has to wait until after her 1st birthday to get it. She will get vaccinated as well.
My 3 kids all have been vaccinated. It's also required by law for school admission here.
Doesn't mean they will never get them, but they won't be near as bad as they would be without the vaccine. DS had the last year when he was 18, but only had 13 of them and not as itchy and scabby.
All of mine had chicken pox. The vaccine wasn't in use yet.
My oldest had chicken pox, dd had the vaccine.
Mine both had chicken pox (October 1993 - they were 3-1/2 and 1). The vaccine had JUST started coming out and they both got sick, before I had a chance to make a decision.
I had them myself, when I was 6.
DD has had the vaccine. Like Trina, it's required before going to school or day care in our state. My DH and I both had chicken pox. I wouldn't mind DD getting them--I would just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Talk to your doctor Paula, there can be some serious side effects from Chicken Pox. Before the vaccine was introduced 100 children each year in the U.S. developed serious cases of the disease and died as a result. I never had it as a child, was vaccinated a few years ago. DS was definately vaccinated and so will the next one. Most kids are sick for 2 weeks with the disease, why would you want your kids to get sick if you could prevent it? Have you had your children vaccinated for MMR? If yes, then why not chicken pox?
It is required by law here in Pennsylvania, too, for all children entering kindergarten. My two oldest had chicken pox, but my two other school-age kids needed the vaccine. I'll wait until my youngest is ready to enter kindergarten before I'll get him vaccinated.
One thing I was told is that you can still get chicken pox after being vaccinated (though it is a milder form) and the risk of developing shingles is about the same (if not slightly higher) with the vaccine.
First to answer your question. I did not have my vaccinated for chicken pox. They did get them at ages 5 ,3 and 1.
As for shingles, if you are vacinated against chicken pox you are also vacinated against shingles. You cannot get shingles if you have not had chicken pox, it is the same virus.
Why I chose not to vacinate...well first off, it was a newer vaccine, I don't tend to take any of those. Secondly, there are a LOT of cases of pox after the vacine, they are milder, but not always. AAP knows the immunity from the immunization wears off and you will need a booster, but they aren't sure when. And not everyone does, so there is a LOT of debate on when/if this should be done.
So why did I vaccinate against MMR and not pox. Well statistically MMR is a much more dangerous disease. Yes 100 kids a year die from the pox, but of HOW many cases. This is not the norm. More kids die from car wrecks, from pnemonia, from the flu, etc. Simply I think before we stick all these artifical chemicals in our kids bodies we should at least examine them. Do the benefits outweigh the risks? With this vaccine I just didn't think so. Having pox at an older age can cause very very serious issues (there are some thought linking it to MS if you are genetically predisposed). Anyway I didn't want to chance that by having a vaccine that didn't hold it's weight. Also for a daughter to know they are covered when they get pg is very important.
As for schools, techincally you are required by law to have immunizations, but all it takes to get around that is a letter, usually from you, but sometimes from your doc. So don't let the school bully you into doing something you don't believe in.
Another side note, i felt like this was the "working woman's vaccine". Kids with the pox have to stay home from school for at least 5-7 days. This is really tough for mommies. I have had 3 kids with this, for the first two they really were only sick for a day. Still contagious after that, but only day 2 did they feel bad, and for one kid he didn't feel bad at all (he looked horrible though). My yougest (he was 1 ) was very sick, he spend 4-5 days running a high fever. He was one of those rare cases of being very sick, we were in an out of the docs office, they kept a very close eye on him. But honestly my kids have had the flu once and it was FAR worse. He ran 103 temp for 4-5 days, that is just not that uncommon with little ones.
My kids all had the pox as preschoolers. I did nothing to hide them from kids with it. They were around many before they finally got it.
I think the vaccine was just coming out when they were the age to get it, but I wouldn't have opted for it.
My kids, being born in the 60's, did not get the vaccine, of course. My ex caught them from my oldest son. My two younger sons had pretty bad cases, one boy having pox inside his nose, his navel, and other uncomfortable places, with high fever and pain.
I realize there are risks from all medications and vaccines, and do urge you to talk to your doctor. But chicken pox (and shingles) are no joke, and should, imo, be prevented if at all possible.
As for other vaccines, I was listening to a report on NPR a few weeks ago on reports of rubella (German measles) cases in the U.S. And, of course, the terrible risk if a pregnant woman who is not immune (neither had nor was vaccinated). Living as we do in an incredibly shrinking world, people from countries where diseases which do not have universal vaccination programs for rubella, polio, measles, etc., can be getting off the plane in the U.S. every day. So if you don't have your child vaccinated for at least the really serious diseases, even though most people are vaccinated, your child can be exposed from foreign visitors.
Dd is too young for this yet, but I also had chicken pox in junior high and it was TERRIBLE. I missed about 10 days of school and still have scars from them. It's required in IN before school admission, so dd will get the vaccine earlier I guess.
Keep in mind, if it IS required in your state for school admission you have the right to say that (if you feel strongly that your child does not have the vaccine)your child will not participate due to religious reasons. You just sign a piece of paper stating that and that's the end of it. Just FYI.
All three of mine have had the vaccine. Since then all three of also been exposed to chicken pox and so far, so good. 
my four had the vaccine and to go to getting chicken pox. it was a mild form lasted a few days I took them to the Dr and he said its rare but they still can catch them. go figure
Kaye, I think you should do for your children what you think is best, however, just to clarify one point that you made, the vaccine is live, it is not an artifical chemical that we put into our bodies. It is a very mild form of the disease this is why some people develop mild cases.
As for 100 children who die per year from this disease I'm happy to say mine won't be one of them. I have a extremely rare autoimmune disease that very few people get. If one person in your family has it, it is even more rare for someone else to get it, because my father has this disease it is statistically very unlikely that I would have it. I have one of the most servere cases. So when it comes to low risks and taking chances I just don't. I know what it is like to be a rare case - it's no fun believe me.
I am happy that modern medicine continues to work on vaccinces and drugs to help us live more healthy productive lives. Think of the millions who have been saved from antibiotics, yes I know there are some issues now concerning these drugs, but perhaps you would not be here today if it weren't for some of these "new" or "old" vaccines and drugs. Just some food for thought.
My advise on the chicken pox vaccine is to get it for your kids.
I didn't and my 16 and 12 year old had the chicken pox back in oct and nov and now I understand what they mean by the older they are when they get them the harder they are on them. My DD's were miserable. They both have bad scars.
I thought since my DD's never got them as kids that they were never going to get them and as soon as I gave up on them getting them, they did.
Both of mine were vaccinated. My 15 yr old has never had any kind of outbreak, but my 10 yr old had a very, very mild case about 4 years ago. We're talking 12 spots and two days, boom, it's over. I had chicken pox when I was 16 and it was absolutely horrible. I know there are a lot of parents who actually expose their kids to get it over with, but I personally don't agree with that practice. I'd recommend the vaccination in a heartbeat.
Kaye,
Just to clarify...You can get shingles if you have had Chicken Pox even though they are the same virus. This is copied from the Public Health website "Facts about Chicken Pox"
What are shingles?
The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. The virus goes into a resting or inactive state in some nerve cells in your body. Years later the virus may become active again causing shingles. Only people who have already had chickenpox can get shingles.
Early symptoms of shingles include headache, sensitivity to light, and flu-like symptoms without a fever. You may then feel itching, tingling, or extreme pain in the area where a rash will develop several days later. The rash commonly occurs on the back or neck. The rash progresses into clusters of blisters, called “shingles”, which then fill with pus and eventually crust over. It takes two to four weeks for the blisters to heal, although some scars may remain.
People with shingles can pass the chickenpox virus to other persons for up to seven days after blisters appear.
Can chickenpox lead to more serious illness?
Sometimes chickenpox can cause more serious complications or illness. These include:
A bacterial infection of the skin can occur after scratching the chickenpox rash. The infection can sometimes become severe, even causing death.
Babies who get chickenpox from their mothers before birth may be born with birth defects.
Young children with chickenpox may get pneumonia (infection of the lungs), or have problems with other organs inside the body, such as the brain.
Pregnant women, newborn infants, people 13 years and older, and people who have weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe case of chickenpox and develop problems.
A person with shingles who feels well does not need to stay away from work or other activities, as long as the rash can be completely covered.
Personally, I think it is important to be educated about potential risks and benefits before deciding what is right for your family. If anyone is interested in reading more of this website go to http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile44a.stm
In case you were wondering, yes my dd is vaccinated. It is part of the provincial immunization program in British Columbia and is provided at no cost to all residents.
I was forced into giving them the vaccine, though I didn't want them to have it. They got it at 18 months old.
Kaye,
Just re-reading your post and I was a little offended by the "working mommies vaccine" comment. I don't know too many Moms - working or otherwise - that would choose to put their children through an immunization simply so that it might be more "convenient" for them.
As a working Mom, I put my child ahead of everything else and certainly would be happy to give up days at work to spend time at home with my child if she was ill. I chose to vaccinate my child because I feel that the benefits far outweigh the risks and would never NEVER put my child at risk simply to avoid the inconvenience of taking time off work.
Wow!
Maybe I should have put this under on the debate board.
The reason I have chosen not to vacinate my dd yet is simply because the vaccine is relatively new. I thought it would be better for her to get them when she is young than to have the vaccine only to find out is wears off and then end up getting chicken pox later in life when the side affects are much worse.
First, while it's a live vaccine, it still does have chemicals in it! It has to be IN something.
Also, when this came out it WAS advertised as being a convenience to working parents. Every parenting article I read said this!! They said it was so parents didn't have to take a week or two off work. I don't have the articles anymore, but that's exactly why they said it was now a big thing here in the USA. Before it became so popular here, it had been in use for 20 years in Japan. No one meant any offense, this is simply how it was targeted and addressed when it first hit the American scene.
Paula, that's exactly why I was opposed to it. My mom got the Chicken Pox at 16 and nearly died. I'm afraid the vaccine will wear off later in my children's lives and it will be more difficult. I had them at 4 and was just fine, other than mildly uncomfortable. Tricare (military health plan) standards call for the vaccine at 12 months. When I objected, they pushed it back until the next well-baby, and at 18 months they told me I HAD to allow it. I was bullied and threatened. After talking to moms who have refused some or all vaccines for one reason or another I found out they cannot force parents to vaccinate. I still feel bullied, and I resent the whole situation.
None of my children have had it. None of them will. In the case of this disease, I think the risks of the vaccine outweigh the benefits but I'm a known advocate against vaccinating without educating yourself.
BTW, none of your school districts can require you to get any vaccinations done. There is a simple waiver that can be filled out that states that you are choosing not to vaccinate for personal or religious reasons.
Well considering my dad is a clinical research pharmacologist and was on the research team at Merck at the time developing the vaccine, my kids got it. He had been in on all of the research trials and obviously has a vested interest in his grandkids and he absolutely advocated it.
BTW, Crystal I don't know how your mom could have gotten the CP vaccine at age 16 since it was only introduced to the public in the early 90s.
Pam, what is the info now on how long it lasts? When my dd got it there was some concern that there might need to be a booster at 12. (she's almost 12).
I was personally torn, my ds got them and it was pretty awful but unmanagable. I debated terribly before giving the vaccine to my dd.
Pam, I think she means her mom got the chicken pox at age 16...not the shot.
frasersmom...the website you quoted said this "Only people who have already had chickenpox can get shingles" and in my post I said this "You cannot get shingles if you have not had chicken pox, it is the same virus."
The chicken pox vaccine is also a vaccine for shingles.
As far as the working mom comment. I am sorry I offended you, but I do feel like at least one of the reasons we searched for a vaccine for pox is because of the time factor. It is a huge financial loss to the have people taking large amounts of time off work with sick kids. Most other illnesses only last a day or two, but with pox you do have to stay home at least a week.
I agree with Tink on this one. For my kids I felt like the risks outweighed the benefits. I do not vaccinate my children without a lot of knowledge. Vacinnes, just like any medications has side effects, you have to know what you are doing.
I also know that I have to live with my choices, if one of my children had died from the pox then maybe I would have felt worse about it. But in my case two of my three children have had very severe reactions to at least one of their shots, which means that by doc reccomendation they don't get others.
I too have a huge history of medical issues in my family, so that weighs in too.
Heaventree, I am curious as to what AI disease you have. Everyone in my family has one, there are a few repeats. I lucked out, I only have Ulcerative colitis, my middle son has JRA.
Funny how we can take the same sect of data and draw different conclusions. I felt like if something could go wrong it would, and choose not to vaccinate because of it.
Kaye, to answer your question, I have Alopecia Areata as does my father, he was just recently diagnosed with RA as well and it has been quite devasting for him, so you can image my fears for the future and these lovely AI diseases. I'm now a little worried that I might have Lupus, have a doctor's appointment next week.
Interesting. We actually worried that my youngest son had that, but he seems to have gotten better so we haven't seen a specialist. Hoping it was a fluke.
Lupus, I have been tested twice. I have just enough symptoms all docs suspect it, but not serious enough to really have it.
My mother had MS.
I figure that at this point there is nothing we can do. I try to eat right, really really limit artificial stuff. I guess since they don't know what is triggering these responses that I try to cut down on what I can. I met a friend who was really into homeopothey. This has really made me feel much better, but it has taken some time.
Pam, Vicki is correct, my mom had the Chicken Pox at 16, and it nearly killed here. I had the virus at 4, and all my cousins got it as well, because the idea then was pass it around, get it over with early. I still strongly feel that it would have been better for my children to get it early rather than have the vaccine. I think the flip side to this vaccine is the kids who are not getting it are also not going to be exposed to it early (since the crowd is vaccinated) and no matter how you slice it there are going to be children in my children's age group who get sick as teens.
Kaye, you are right, I apologize, I misread your post. I still think it is important to know the risks of chicken pox, so hopefully the information I posted was helpful to someone. I am certainly an advocate for education and personal choice.
I was also not aware that the vaccine was marketed in the US as a benefit to working Moms. I still find that marketing ploy offensive as a working mom, but I apologize Kaye for attributing that statement just to you.
Crystal, okay. Duh! Must have been reading too fast.
Jann, I'll ask my dad. He may not be "in the know" anymore. He left Merck several years ago, tried to retire, and is now manufacturing respiratory drugs so he might not be up on the latest on Varivax, but he'll know how to find out. He's terrible at checking email, so it may take awhile.
I must be the oldest person in the world to not have had chicken pox. I am 38. My mom was so overprotective that if I had them, she would have known. I had my DD vaccinated when she was 2 and my DS was scheduled to go in on a Monday and get it but came down with the pox on the Friday before. Did I mention it was 4 days before Christmas and he was only 18 months and had also just had tubes put in his ears a month before at Thanksgiving? What a holiday season!
I did the vaccination for personal reasons. In the early 90s, I worked in a building where there was a small privately run preschool. I loved seeing these kids learn and play. My office and their room shared a small kitchen area. I played with them and even helped them on projects and picnics. I came in one Monday to find everyone crying. One of my favorite little boys had come down with the chicken pox the week before and had died over the weekend from complications. I remember seeing the mom and she was in so much grief it is still beyond words.
So, when only 100 die from it each year, it is easy to justify not to get it. But I knew one of those 100 kids. When I found out there was a vaccine for it, I was so relieved. That is such a vivid memory for me. But, everyone has to do what is right for their families.
Thanks, Pam!
My two older ones had the chicken pox at 6 and 4 years old, then when the vaccine was introduced, my 2 younger were vaccinated. Well about 3 years ago, one of the ones vaccinated came down with the chicken pox anyway (very mild case - lots of spots, but no itch). Not sure if the two will need a booster. My younger sister had the chicken pox at 12 years and developed juv. diabetes right after that - they did blame the bad chicken pox virus on that (no family history of diabetes).
My two older ones had it, the two younger ones have the vaccine. I had them when I was 6 weeks old.
So what is the big fear of the vaccine? I dont understand why you wouldnt want to vaccinate other than they havent been vaccinating kids for forever. I dont know how to type that without sounding like I am a militant vaccinator, I just havent seen anything posted above that would sway me not to vaccinate.
Rich had the Chicken Pox when the baby was 6wks old and she caught them. He was off work for almost 2 weeks and it was awful. Jade had spots and a small fever but it wasn't that bad. Timmy was vaccinated at 2yrs old I believe or a different age not sure and he didn't catch them. I had them when I was 10 and my mom said it was awful for me too.
I say do what you feel is right for your family and hope it is the best!!
Kristin, the worry I have about it is because we don't know whether it will last, and if it wears off in their teens they could become deathly ill. Plus, we don't know if it will cause shingles later in life, since that is the same virus. Basically, this is a childhood illness that is usually nothing to worry about, like the flu, most people get over it without problem. I don't think the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks and unknown effects. I'm not against most vaccines, my children have had all their vaccines so far, but I don't believe this one is a good risk to take.
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