Mothering › Forums › Health › Vaccinations › Chicken Pox Panic In School District
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Chicken Pox Panic In School District  

post #1 of 56
12/3/08 at 12:27am
Thread Starter 
Our school district seems to be in a panic.

We have:

* 1 elementary school with 16 cases of chicken pox
* 1 elementary school with 8 cases of chicken pox
* 1 elementary school with 2 cases of chicken pox (this is DD's school)

My son goes to another school and I haven't heard any reports. Yet.

My son does not have the Chicken Pox Vaccine or MMR.

We are being sent home letters urging us to have our kids vaccinated. Immediately.

Sigh. I have always been confident in my desicion but I think the peer pressure is making me second guess myself.

Please assure me I am doing the right thing by *not* vaccinating him.

I am just scared of him actually getting the CP.
post #2 of 56
12/3/08 at 12:32am
You are doing the right thing by not vaccinating. I went to a vaccine talk ( I can always use more info. ) It was a very middle of the road, informative talk by a ND. Anyways, he did say that we are making the CPox disease worse by not letting our kids get the CPox naturally. CPox has always been a "right of passage". We all had it as kids and it was ok. The vaccine doesn't fully protect and then you can get shingles as an adult.
post #3 of 56
12/3/08 at 12:39am
Both of my girls had CP this spring, it was no big deal at all. We've had colds and stomach bugs that were more of a PIA then the CP. The biggest pain was just keeping bored kids entertained until we could go out again.
post #4 of 56
12/3/08 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post
I am just scared of him actually getting the CP.
What about getting chickenpox scares you?
post #5 of 56
12/3/08 at 12:59am
I'd look into what type of nutritional support you can do to help your kids get through chicken pox safely. I mean--it's not like my mom, or most moms 25 years ago, did a whole lot different when their kids came down with chicken pox, and the fatality rate is really low, especially if your kid doesn't have pre-existing health conditions, but I think it's wise and maybe would put your mind to rest to decide on a few things that would be beneficial. Most viruses use a lot of vitamin A (measles more than others, though) so I'd get some cod liver oil if you don't have any already, we give it daily just for its general goodness. We use a lot of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) during illnesses too. Think about foods that are nutritious and easy to digest, I would tend toward homemade soup. There are so many things that we can do to help support our kids' bodies through illness.
post #6 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:05am
Thread Starter 
What about getting chickenpox scares you?

The whole thing. Seriously. I read to much on the internet. They make it sound like if you get chicken pox your a goner for sure.... brain infections, skin infections,etc., etc. (now I know a lot on the internet is over-exaggerated.... )

I don't think anyone want there kids to be sick....
post #7 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:05am
For me, chicken pox was a 'no big deal' ailment. I guess the schools/drug co's are trying to instill unwarranted fear in parents. I would worry more about them getting shingles, not chickenpox. Hopefully my DS will get them, when he's older I'll have to search out some chickenpox party locations! :
post #8 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:09am
Didn't you have chickenpox?

-Angela
post #9 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sileree View Post
What about getting chickenpox scares you?
That was my question.

We are actively LOOKING for chicken pox. (Saw it several times but didn't stick with us. )

I can't imagine being scared of such a benign childhood infection.
post #10 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:13am
I would guess that most of those kids have had the vaccine...worked great didn't it?

Why bother?

As Angela said...you had CP right? It's only since the vaccine came out that CP got all scary...just like Measles and mumps were no big deal till after the introduction of the vaccine.
post #11 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post
I read to much on the internet. They make it sound like if you get chicken pox your a goner for sure.... brain infections, skin infections,etc., etc.
It's Chicken Pox, not Small Pox They are definitely EXAGGERATING. Is there a possibility of those things? Sure. But CP vax actually causes a child to come down with CP in most cases (my nephews' ped actually stated that it's supposed to, but it's a "milder" case...sure seemed like a regular case to me though). And of course, those exact same possibilities are there for those that vax...from the vax.
post #12 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post
[B]
I don't think anyone want there kids to be sick....
I am not so sure about that. We don't want our kids to be sickly, but a good infection with a descent fever, I think it is actually very good for the kids, build strong immunity and maybe prevent cancer and diseases much far than chicken pox.

I am not happy when my grandchildren are sick, but we are not afraid of sickness. Nor are we sad when they are sick. It is the body's way of getting rid of things that don't belong in there.

I would say we are OK with sickness. It is a part of being healthy.
post #13 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tammyswanson View Post
when he's older I'll have to search out some chickenpox party locations! :
That's the thing! Chickenpox parties are getting harder to find because of the vaccine. They're making it worse!
post #14 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post
What about getting chickenpox scares you?

The whole thing. Seriously. I read to much on the internet. They make it sound like if you get chicken pox your a goner for sure.... brain infections, skin infections,etc., etc. (now I know a lot on the internet is over-exaggerated.... )

I don't think anyone want there kids to be sick....
"They" are wrong. Serious complications are rare, death is beyond extremely rare in children.

And yes, I do want my DD to get the chicken pox at an appropriate age so she can have natural immunity. But being exposed and becoming immune doesn't even mean she will necessarily get sick.

Do a lot of reading and research about the actual numbers behind their claims. I guarantee you will feel better.
post #15 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post

I am just scared of him actually getting the CP.
I mean this in the nicest way possible. Okay?

Really? I mean, really seriously? Scared of...chicken pox? Think about it. Even the people who created the CP vaccine have said initially its intent was to save parents' money and time off work by avoiding kids getting it. There aren't really any complications for a normal healthy child. It's just an itchy rash and a bit of fever. The serious health problems you might read about on the internet are either A) scaremongering to goad parents into vaccinating their kids against it or B) immunocompromised children.

I had chicken pox when I was 5. I hung out in my bedroom in nothing but a bathrobe and some Calamine lotion for 3 or 4 days and then I was fine. I didn't even feel sick, just a little itchy.
post #16 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:21am
fwiw, i have 5 kids. the oldest got cp before the immunizations became mandated. ds2 got the shot, and got full blown cp 11 months later.

so much for the great experiment.

none of the younger kids have gotten the shot, nor will they.
post #17 of 56
12/3/08 at 1:31am
The question is...how many of those kids that have come down with chicken pox have been vaccinated for it?

Bet your bippy it's most of 'em.
post #18 of 56
12/3/08 at 2:11am
Thread Starter 
Didn't you have chickenpox?

Nope, never have and I am 37. I have been exposed more than once but have never come down with them. My mom never had them either... maybe a natural immunity?

I appreciate all the insight.

I think it is the total community *freak out* that is getting to me.

Plus I am a born worrier so I just tend to worry about everything
post #19 of 56
12/3/08 at 3:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brennasmom View Post
Didn't you have chickenpox?

Nope, never have and I am 37. I have been exposed more than once but have never come down with them. My mom never had them either... maybe a natural immunity?

I appreciate all the insight.

I think it is the total community *freak out* that is getting to me.

Plus I am a born worrier so I just tend to worry about everything
Where do you live?? and if you get it, will you PM me so we can borrow your DC's shirt??

I am 37 as well, and have never had the cp. We are planning on having another baby, so are either going to get the vax (which isn't foolproof) or get exposed naturally (hence the first part of my post)

Are you worried for your DC or are you worried YOU will get it?
post #20 of 56
12/3/08 at 8:54am
Maybe learning what the CDC says about chickenpox will help? Fear is worse when you don't know the real risks.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin.../varicella.pdf

Quote:
"The clinical course in healthy children is generally mild..."
Quote:
"Complications are infrequent among healthy children."
Quote:
"Among children 1–14 years of age, the fatality rate of varicella is approximately 1 per 100,000 cases."
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Vaccinations
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Health › Vaccinations › Chicken Pox Panic In School District