Anyone refuse Chicken Pox vaccine?

We are gambling that it will be safer to have our kids experience the Chicken Pox now rather than get the vaccine and then have it wear off and they get it later when it is more dangerous.

We want our kids to get the Chicken Pox but we are scared that if everyone is getting the vaccine then no one will be left to share the Chicken Pox with our kids.

Has anyone's kids got the Chicken Pox lately? (I know it is early. My older one got it when she was 3 and my two are just 2 years old yet)

Thank you, in advance for your time.

Sherry

 

Here's are a couple of article that talk about the decision you're facing. As one of those kids with permanent facial scarring, I wish we had been able to get a vaccine when I was young . I was 4 years old and still remember how horribly painful it was.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-chicken-pox-vaccine_1725.bc

http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4202.pdf

 

QUOTE(mom of one plus two @ May 19 2008, 02:18 AM) [snapback]780318[/snapback]
We want our kids to get the Chicken Pox but we are scared that if everyone is getting the vaccine then no one will be left to share the Chicken Pox with our kids.


Sherry



I'm confused. What does this mean? ardon:

ETA: Nevermind I got it...who will give it to your kids. Duh!

 

i wanted to refuse but DS needed it to get into school.

 

QUOTE(marose @ May 18 2008, 06:36 PM) [snapback]780347[/snapback]
i wanted to refuse but DS needed it to get into school.


That is not true!! No school, preschool, public or private can deny admittance because of vaccines!! You have the right to pick and choose all you want!

None of my children received the vaccine (or any other) and only one has gotten the chicken pox and he was fine. I had it when I was a kid, DH had it as an adult, it sucks, but I dont think their needs to be a vaccine for it... JMO.

 

I have taught kinder for a few years and have YET to have a kid (in any of the kinder classes) come down with chicken pox. When we were little everyone had it! But thanks to vaccines, that is one not a common one we see anymore.

I don't think the pp intended this to become a vaccine debate, but I just wanted to share...we went to our appt with the intention not vaccining the kids against chicken pox. I too had the attitude, "We all had it as a child, and we all turned out fine." Well our pedis first year in private practice, she had a toddler die after getting the chicken pox. She passionately told us this very long, sad story, and we couldn't get that vaccine fast enough! So needless to say, we hopefully won't be getting it now.

 

There are such things as "pox parties". Try doing a local search in your area. I plan on taking my kids to one when they get a little older if they dont catch it before then. And ditto what HeyThere said, every state has exemptions for vaccines, vaccines are not manatory to enter any public school and/or daycare.

 

Wow.

 

QUOTE(angie7 @ May 18 2008, 10:49 PM) [snapback]780369[/snapback]
There are such things as "pox parties". Try doing a local search in your area. I plan on taking my kids to one when they get a little older if they dont catch it before then. And ditto what HeyThere said, every state has exemptions for vaccines, vaccines are not manatory to enter any public school and/or daycare.



That may be true for the US but it doesn't apply to every country.

 

I won't let my girls get the flu or the chicken pox vaccine.

Is it true that vaccine is made from aborted fetuses...I read on the brochure that it says embryonic lung cells...not quite sure what that meant.

I figure if my girls don't catch it by the time they get to high school, they can get the vaccine.

 

QUOTE(twoin2005 @ May 18 2008, 06:47 PM) [snapback]780366[/snapback]
I have taught kinder for a few years and have YET to have a kid (in any of the kinder classes) come down with chicken pox. When we were little everyone had it! But thanks to vaccines, that is one not a common one we see anymore.

I don't think the pp intended this to become a vaccine debate, but I just wanted to share...we went to our appt with the intention not vaccining the kids against chicken pox. I too had the attitude, "We all had it as a child, and we all turned out fine." Well our pedis first year in private practice, she had a toddler die after getting the chicken pox. She passionately told us this very long, sad story, and we couldn't get that vaccine fast enough! So needless to say, we hopefully won't be getting it now.

No, I didnt... We have debated it into the ground here on TS... Just search it if you want to re-read all of it.. I know I dont want to re-type it! LOL!

But my view is different than yours... There is a slim chance that a child can die from chicken pox, there is a chance they can die from vaccines, driving in a car, getting the flu.. etc... You personally have to weigh the risks and dont let the .01% chance of death be the only deciding factor for you! If you VBAC their is a 1% chance of fetal death, but people still vbac... Its just the benefits dont out weigh the risks for all... Its a very personal decision.


QUOTE(Jennifer P @ May 18 2008, 07:39 PM) [snapback]780422[/snapback]
I won't let my girls get the flu or the chicken pox vaccine.

Is it true that vaccine is made from aborted fetuses...I read on the brochure that it says embryonic lung cells...not quite sure what that meant.

I figure if my girls don't catch it by the time they get to high school, they can get the vaccine.

Yes, its true... "aborted fetal tissue" More than one vaccine contains it... I bet Angie might know which ones, I would have to look it up.

 

From what little I just googled, the original vaccine was developed about 10 years ago using cells from aborted fetuses. Since then, a new vaccine was developed without the use of fetal tissue, however, the cells used come from that original line. So no, they are not cells from fetal tissue, but they are cells that were cultured (if that's the right term) from fetal tissue about a decade ago. Like I said, this is just a google result, and you should never believe everything you read on the internet. I'd ask your doctor for clarification.

For those of you who are Catholic, here's what the Church has to say about it:

http://www.ncbcenter.org/FAQ_Vaccines.asp

 

QUOTE(Orestia @ May 18 2008, 10:57 PM) [snapback]780452[/snapback]
From what little I just googled, the original vaccine was developed about 10 years ago using cells from aborted fetuses. Since then, a new vaccine was developed without the use of fetal tissue, however, the cells used come from that original line. So no, they are not cells from fetal tissue, but they are cells that were cultured (if that's the right term) from fetal tissue about a decade ago. Like I said, this is just a google result, and you should never believe everything you read on the internet. I'd ask your doctor for clarification.


I got the information off of the Merck website for Varivax.
Which stated something to the effect of: embryonic cells from human lungs.

 

QUOTE(Jennifer P @ May 18 2008, 11:08 PM) [snapback]780461[/snapback]
I got the information off of the Merck website for Varivax.
Which stated something to the effect of: embryonic cells from human lungs.


That's right. From the way I understand it, the cells are embryonic cells from human lungs. Meaning the vaccine was originally developed using lung cells from a fetus. The current vaccine uses cells that were cultivated from that original line of cells (meaning they grew new cells from the original ones, and are not using aborted fetal tissue in the new vaccines.) The vaccine has a history associated with aborted fetal cells, but they're not using "new" tissue.

 

A couple kids got it in my friend's children's school last year. It was really scary because my friend was pregnant and was working with one of the girls who ended up contracting it a little while later and therefore exposed my friend to it. Thank god she didn't get it. Exposing a pregnant woman to chicken pox is very serious since if you get it in pregnancy it can mean severe birth defects or even death of the baby if the baby is not treated.

Vaccines protect more than the person vaccinated. It also protects those around them by preventing the spread of serious illneses.

 

DS1's chicken pox barely made him sick. DS2 had the worst case of chicken pox I've ever seen. He was catatonic, he hallucinated. He couldn't even watch TV he was so sick. There was no part of his body--scalp, eyelids, in his ears, even more uncomfortable spots--that was not covered in pox. His fever was so high I nearly had him hospitalized.

I got the girls vaccinated after that. I had thought chicken pox was no big deal, and mostly it isn't. But sometimes it IS.

eta: for clarity: it was many years later that I had the girls, but remembering his severe chicken pox, I decided to have them vaccinated.

 

Its rare to see people with it now. But I've got it for all 3. I had it twice as a kid...and don't want to see them ever ever again. I have scars as well from them(30 yr old scars).
A man my brother went to school with got them last month, almost killed him. Its worse for adults. My Dh has never had them. I supposed getting them is better as a kid but its down right dangerous if they don't get them as a child and when they grow up get it.
Good luck finding a kid not vaccinated. Its one of those vaccines everyone wants.

 

My girls were both vaccinated...however, Reagan did have a "reaction" to the vaccine and got a mild case of the pox. She got about 6-8 pox on her and it didn't cause her any pain, no fever, etc...just the pox and they went away rather quickly. Morgan had no reaction. I will be getting Olivia vaccinated. Like pp said, there can be severe complications with kids getting the pox nowadays...most cases of the pox are more severe than when we were little and our parents WANTED us to get it and get it over with. I was 5 when I had it and it was horrible. I remember just laying on the floor for days..it was really bad weather outside and we coulnd't get into town so my uncle had to get my script filled and bring it to the house on the snow mobile!

 

My older kids got the vaccine and still got chicken pox. Tanner got 5 spots and the other 2 got no spots but all were presenting with same symptoms within the same week. Chicken pox went around their school last year and I was told it went around their new school this year. They started sending letters home telling Kids to get boosters for the chicken pox Vaccine

Well the big kids brought it home to my twins who were 10 months old at the time. Robert broke out first just 3 days after Tanner. Steven had his own turn almost 2 weeks later. I was surpirsed how many people asked me when I was out with them...Are they contagious I would love to expose my child. Of course I only took them out when they were healed up but since I knew another child who was sick I did tell a friend about them so thye could catch it if they wanted (We all go to church together so she knew her too)

Steven does have Chicken pox scars on his face, a few deep caters and we did not pick at them. He just scars easily with his fair skin. I am glad they had them and I did not have to make the decision. The disease itself is not horrible, I remember having them myself. Seeing my kids go through it was not horrible. It made for some fun scrapbook pages with all their spots!!

Cindy

 

My kids have had the vaccine. My brother and I got chicken pox when we were 10 and 12, both with pretty severe cases, and we were both sick for the entire summer. It was so awful, and we still have the scars from it.

 

We did not get the vaccine....had my big kids titter tested...negative...had a friend who is a doc that is against the vaccine. Gave DD who is now 17 the vaccine....after she was through puberty and had her cycles for a couple of years....will do the same for other kids....PLUS, I have warned my girls that they should get their titter checked before they plan on having kiddos...and do that periodically during their fertile years....because the vaccine can wear off.

 

All my kids have gotten the chicken pox vaccine when they were babies, but we decided not to get the booster shot for it at age 5. We may get it done in two or three years, or not at all but right now we figured we will see if they get it. We got it done when they were youger because we didn't want them to have it when they were babies but now that they are getting older I wouldn't mind taking the chance of them getting it so they can get it as kids and hopefully not have to worry about getting it as adults.

 

My kids have all had their vaccines on schedule.

 

QUOTE(HeyThere @ May 19 2008, 03:48 AM) [snapback]780435[/snapback]
I bet Angie might know which ones, I would have to look it up.


Yep, I do. CP, MMR (the rubella portion), and Hep A are the most common and I believe some polio vaxs still use them, but I'm not sure which ones.

Edited: If you look at the vaccine inserts, under the ingrediants it will list human diploid cells, that is aborted fetal tissue.

 

I had chicken pox and everybody I knew as a kid got them too. Up to this day we don't vaccinate against chicken pox in the Netherlands, but my 3 kids got the shot in the US, all at 12 months. They react very normal to shots in general, so it was a no-brainer for me. It's now a point of discussion as well in the Netherlands whether or not to add the shot to the national program.

 

My girls got chicken pox last year from someone at school, and then others got it in their class I think 5 or 6 total. They were pretty sick for a few days, and I did feel really bad for them with the itching etc.. The biggest things was one got it and exactly 14days later the other did, so more the hassle of being of work etc. Luckily we didn't get any facial scars. So would I have got the vacinne if I knew now, probably.

Oh and I had the chicken pox in my 20's the most horrible experience, halucinations, sooooooo sick etc..

 

QUOTE(j&jtwins @ May 19 2008, 01:52 PM) [snapback]780827[/snapback]
My girls got chicken pox last year from someone at school, and then others got it in their class I think 5 or 6 total. They were pretty sick for a few days, and I did feel really bad for them with the itching etc.. The biggest things was one got it and exactly 14days later the other did, so more the hassle of being of work etc. Luckily we didn't get any facial scars. So would I have got the vacinne if I knew now, probably.

Oh and I had the chicken pox in my 20's the most horrible experience, halucinations, sooooooo sick etc..


Ditto! Totally... I was 10 and my brother was 12... It was horrible if you ask me.

 

My DH got the chicken pox when I was 20 weeks pregnant. He had a VERY mild case as a child, and I guess he wasn't immune anymore. Thankfully I had the chicken pox already, but I called my OB freaking out, and she checked my charts and said I was fine and didn't need to leave the house. But our doc was VERY scared for my DH (he was 34 at the time) and was told to bring him to the emergency room immediately should his fever get over 101. We were a WRECK!

I don't see the harm in giving it to them ... besides the normal risk associated with shots. Mine both got them.

 

We had the chicken pox in April. (My girls are 3 1/2)
I purposely didn't really ever mention it on this site, cause I didn't want to get into the pros and cons of vaccinating or not. But I'm VERY happy with my decision not to give them this one. (They have all the major vaccinations BTW) They were exposed 3 times before this time. The first time I was still BFing so I think my immunity helped them there. Gabby actually didn't have it very badly, so now I have to worry if she got "enough" immunity or not!

 

From Science Direct (I also read this on the CDC site):
QUOTE
Currently marketed, live attenuated varicella vaccines all are derived from the same parental strain of wild-type varicella zoster virus (VZV). The parental strain was originally isolated in Japan in 1971 from a healthy child named Oka with varicella infection. The Oka virus was attenuated by sequential passage in cell culture and the resulting Oka/Biken virus strain has been used to vaccinate Japanese children since 1974 [1]. Subsequently, the parental Oka VZV strain was further passaged to yield two additional attenuated VZV strains, Oka/Merck and Oka-RIT, both of which have been developed as commercially available vaccines. The live attenuated Oka/Merck varicella vaccine (Varicella Virus Vaccine Live, (Oka/Merck); VARIVAX™) was licensed in the US in March 1995, and over 22 million doses have been distributed.


Please do not be misled and misinformed:QUOTE(HeyThere @ May 18 2008, 08:48 PM) [snapback]780435[/snapback]
Yes, its true... "aborted fetal tissue" More than one vaccine contains it... I bet Angie might know which ones, I would have to look it up.


QUOTE(angie7 @ May 19 2008, 06:45 AM) [snapback]780807[/snapback]
Yep, I do. CP, MMR (the rubella portion), and Hep A are the most common and I believe some polio vaxs still use them, but I'm not sure which ones.

Edited: If you look at the vaccine inserts, under the ingrediants it will list human diploid cells, that is aborted fetal tissue.

Vaccines do not contain aborted fetal tissue. :nea: <_< The viruses are attenuated in human embryonic lung cell culture, embryonic guinea pig fibroblasts and/or in human diploid cell lines. For production, the virus is grown within a diploid cell culture and is then purified from the medium for subsequent use as a vaccine. Reconstituted vaccine may contain trace amounts of residual components of the diploid cells (DNA and protein) but not the cells themselves (and certainly not tissue).

 

Thank you for posting that info!

 

QUOTE
I supposed getting them is better as a kid but its down right dangerous if they don't get them as a child and when they grow up get it.


This is my problem with the vaccine. It doesn't always provide life long immunity (I know they now suggest boosters later in life) so you run the risk of getting chicken pox as an adult even if you are vaccinated as a child. I agree with a pp- it is a very personal decision.

 

"DESCRIPTION
VARIVAX* [Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Oka/Merck)] is a preparation of the Oka/Merck strain of live,
attenuated varicella virus. The virus was initially obtained from a child with natural varicella, then
introduced into human embryonic lung cell cultures, adapted to and propagated in embryonic guinea pig
cell cultures and finally propagated in human diploid cell cultures (WI-38). Further passage of the virus for
varicella vaccine was performed at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in human diploid cell cultures
(MRC-5) that were free of adventitious agents. This live, attenuated varicella vaccine is a lyophilized
preparation containing sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, and processed gelatin as stabilizers."

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circul.../varivax_pi.pdf


Info on WI-38 (the human baby that was aborted to start these vaxs, mentioned in my quote above)
http://www.viromed.com/services/product/wi38.htm
http://www.cogforlife.org/wi-38.htm

Info on MRC-5 (another aborted baby also mentioned in my above quote)
http://www.viromed.com/services/product/mrc5.htm
http://www.cogforlife.org/mrc-5.htm

 

For some reason it wouldnt let me edit but here is another link

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccine_co...etail.cfv?id=32

It all started with human DNA. Human DNA is still used in making of these vaccines in the first place. So technically, aborted babies are still being used to create vaccines.

 

Thanks Cathy for posting that info. Considering you are an expert in the field, I appreciate your informative response.