Chicken Pox-WWYD?

Hi everyone,
My girls are 2 1/2 and have not gotten the Chicken Pox vaccination, mostly because it's not one of the free ones here in Mexico and when they turned 1 I couldn't afford it (it will be about a month of my salary to get them both vaccinated!) But now I could swing it. The thing is, they've been exposed to Chicken Pox three times now and not gotten it!
The first time they were 9 months old and I was still breast feeding, so when my SIL came down with it and we'd been with her the day before she broke out, I figered it was my breast milk antibodies that saved them. Then last year there was a big out break at their day care and they were one of the few who didn't get it. Now, there has been a small outbreak and 3 weeks have passed and they didn't get it. Would you vaccinate them now? Them see to be a bit resistant, but I don't want them to end up with really bad cases? or does this mean when and if they ever get it, it will be mild? I do have the money, but just barely, the doctors I've talked to here are about 50/50 on let them get it or get them vaccinated :huh:

 

Can't they do a titer to see if they have the antibodies in their system? I don't know if that exists for Chicken Pox. Like for the Measles, they can do a blood draw to check for immunity. Sorry, guess I am not much help.

 

I have had all of my children vaccinated for the chicken-pox. It is required here in the states (or at least the states I have lived) for them to have it for daycare and school. Braden had it at 18 months and still got the chicken pox when he was 4. It was a moderate case but none the less...
If I had a choice I wouldn't have gotten it for them. It is a personal decision but I would rather they naturally be exposed and build the immunity that way. As it looks now, Braden and Taryn do not build antibodies through vaccines. They both had Hep B at birth but at a recent screen, neither showed antibodies.
Chicken-pox just doesn't seem to be a huge threat to healthy children should they get it. If I had a child with health concerns or difficulties fighting illnesses, I would probably vaccinate for it.

 

I would not do it.

 

I've tried to avoid the vaccination debates as much as possible, but I agree with the PP at least that in your case, you should see if there is a way to tell whether they already have the antibodies. If they do, it becomes a non-decision and you save your money.

FWIW, we had ours vaccinated on schedule, largely because of my experience -- my sister and I both got chicken pox when we were in high school (because we never managed to contract it in childhood, despite being exposed probably multiple times) and it was awful.

 

My DD's arent vaccinated for anything, so I wouldnt do it. And to the pp who said it was law in their state, vaccines are not law in any state. There are waivers that allow any unvaccinated child to attend school and/or daycare that is state funded b/c again, it isnt law to get vaccines on a state level or a federal level.

 

I'm not getting my kids the chickenpox vaccines until just before they start school. I am hoping they get it before then.

 

There is a blood test that can be done to see if they have the antibodies. I had it done before I got pregnant since I had never had chicken pox. I did not have the antibodies so I went ahead and got myself vaccinated. I chose to get my kids vaccinated for it as well.

 

I get the feeling you're thinking that they've been exposed and haven't gotten it so they won't get it later or they'll get a mild case because of their strong immune systems. I'm proof that this is simply not so. My mother made sure to bring us around every kid we knew who got it hoping we'd get it young and get it over with (we were also breastfed babies). I finally got chicken pox in the 9th grade. My case was pretty severe -- I missed two weeks of school.

On the other hand, a friend of mine had both of her daughters vaccinated and both of them still contracted chicken pox when it went around at their school. The younger one had maybe 5 lesions that might have been overlooked if her older sister hadn't gotten a more moderate breakout first.

I'm not going to weigh in on whether or not you should vaccinate. I just wanted you to know that being exposed and not getting it offers no protection against getting pox in the future.

 

I was vaccinated once as an adult because I never had them when I was a kid. (My brother had a mild case when we were kids, but I avoided him like the plague.) SO.....I never got them and got the vaccine once about 12 yrs. ago. So when the kids were born they gave me an anti-body test and I had the anti bodies, so I didn't get revaccinated..... does that help?! I don't know!

 

I would test for antibodies and give them the shots if they don't have them. I had the chicken pox at 9 and had the worst time with it. This is a disease that can kill children and adults so better safe than sorry.

 

My plan is that if the girls don't get it by the time they are three (and that's just a couple months away ) I will get them vaccinated at their 3-year appointment.

In your case, I would probably get the test for antibodies, but would not just assume they are immune. Chicken pox becomes a very serious disease in older children.

 

I had Chicken Pox at the age of 19 and I was seriously ill. My kids have gotten the chicken pox shot because I'd prefer for them to get the shot and maybe, possibly get a mild case when they are older then to have to go what I went through. JMO.

 

All of my girls have had the shot. No regrets. DH has not had chicken poc in his entire 35 years, and if one fo the kids got it...it could kill him. So its wasn't an issue. Its paid for in Canada so cost dones't factor in.

I know they need it again when a bit older, they'll get the shot then. Some kids just get colds and flus others seem immune at times. Its a personal choice. Ask there doctor if you have concerns.

 

I wouldn't, but then again I don't vaccinate my daughters for anything so you might not want to ask me

 

We have not gotten vaccinated for Chicken Pox and probably won't. I will try to expose them to someone with Chicken Pox until they are about 8yrs old. Then, I guess I will have to get them the vaccine. I think having Chicken Pox is better than the vaccine b/c it guarantee's lifetime immunity.

 

I would vaccinate.

 

we don't do any vax, but i know that is not the right decision for everyone, and i would never tell another parent to vax or not. i encourage you to do your own research and make your decsion based on what you find out. i am pretty sure that the cp vax does not provide life-long immunity, and boosters will be needed to extend any immunity from the vax. good luck with your decison.

 

QUOTE(prettybaby25 @ Apr 13 2007, 12:23 AM) [snapback]217269[/snapback]
We have not gotten vaccinated for Chicken Pox and probably won't. I will try to expose them to someone with Chicken Pox until they are about 8yrs old. Then, I guess I will have to get them the vaccine.


Just curious but why would you HAVE to give the vaccine at age 8?

 

QUOTE
I think having Chicken Pox is better than the vaccine b/c it guarantee's lifetime immunity.


Not true. Most people will not get chicken pox again, but a minority get multiple infections. And then there are shinkles - and debates about whether the vaccine could increase shinkles outbreaks.

We chose to vaccinate for varicela. In most kids, its a minor to moderate infection that causes discomfort. But some kids get serious infections and some die. I guess it's a cost-benefit analysis for you at this point.

 

I was told that those that are getting the vaccines now will eventually need boosters. They won't know when to start giving boosters until those that were the first to be vaccinated start contracting chicken pox. Since my older two kids had the chicken pox when they were younger and it wasn't so bad I have decided to hold off on the vax for my twins. If they have still not had it by middle or high school I will have them vaccinated then. They should know by then when people will need the booster (I hope). Just for the info, the twins have had all their other vaccinations. Good luck in your decision.

-Kimberly

 

I decided not to at this point since it's not "foolproof", plus my kids have always had 2-3 day reactions with mild fevers when getting vaccines and I'm done with giving them at this point, I'll reevaluate when they go to K.

On a side note, my dh had chicken pox as a kid and somehow got exposed when our kids were in the NICU (hospitals! ) and got it again!!!! I think it's pretty rare, but if even actually getting it doesn't necessarily give you lifetime immunity, I'm not gonna bother!

 

All my boys have gotten the chicken pox vaccine for entry into school, as well as every other vaccine recommended by their doctor on schedule.

 

My oldest, who is 13, was vaccinated and still got them! The Dr. said maybe her case would have been worse. Who knows. Jacob didn't have the vaccine and got them around 1.5 years old. The other 3 got the vaccine, and did fine.

However, the younger they are (not talking infants) they better they can handle chicken pox. It is worse when an adult gets it. So I figured I would just go through with it and get it over with. If you haven't already, "I" personally wouldn't worry about getting them vaccinated.

A lot of us didn't get vaccinated when we were babes, and survived. Although I hated having chicken pox, but now I'm immune to them! lol

 

QUOTE(sherrie75 @ Apr 12 2007, 06:45 PM) [snapback]216823[/snapback]
Chicken-pox just doesn't seem to be a huge threat to healthy children should they get it. If I had a child with health concerns or difficulties fighting illnesses, I would probably vaccinate for it.


Actually, the statistics on severe complications, hospitalization and even death resulting from chicken pox every year are what swayed me to get my girls vaccinated. There is a blood test you can do to see if they are already immune (I got the girls tested before I got them vaccinated). If that test is affordable, I would start there.

 

I wanted to thank you all for your response, gave me a lot of things to think about. DH and I talked it over and we decided not to get them vaccinated at this point. If they are approaching their teens and have not had chicken pox, then we will re-evaluate with the new information that has been learned about the vaccination between now and then and probably have them vaccinated so they don't get it as a teen-adult.
One of the things that is interesting in this decision is that all the doctors I've talked to here say this about the vaccine "It doesn't prevent chicken pox, it just makes it a milder case WHEN they do get it". Is that not wierd? some of the doctors I've talked to even said that same thing about ALL the vaccinations, measles, mumps, ruebelia, polio, etc. And I'm like what do you mean? I had all those vaccinations and so did all my childhood friends and we never got any of those. It makes me worry about the quality of Mexican vaccinations!

 

Melissa,

I think it does prevent most people from getting the virus, but if they do, the case is much milder than if they got it without the vaccine. For example, my friends son did get the chicken pox after having the vaccine. He got about 5 spots, they never blistered, and they never itched. So even if you get the disease, the vaccine prevents the fatal complications that can arise by keeping it a very mild case.