Totally Confused about this ChickenPox Vaccine?

[Proxi]

First of all, I am pretty sure this is my first time posting a whole new thread, so my apologies if I didn't put it in the right section/didn't label it correctly.

Anyways, for a little background, I grew up in the environment where my Mom used to take my sister and I to play with kids who got the chickenpox so we would get it too lol. It was fairly normal in the generation I grew up in I guess. I eventually did get the chickenpox and it manifested more like the flu with less rash-like symptoms. Compared to a lot of the other sicknesses I caught as a kid, this was likely the least traumatic.

I am also not necessarily against vaccines... I guess I am in the undecided camp overall, debating risks and benefits. For example, I have not gotten the HPV vaccine, because by the time it came out I was already in a committed, monogamous relationships and if I am going to get it, I probably already have it.

The question: I would want to raise my children the same way as I was in terms of the chickenpox. However, if all the kids around them are getting the vaccine, there will be no way to expose them to the virus naturally. I certainly wouldn't want them to get it as an adult, but I am not comfortable with the vaccine. I don't even understand why people bothered developing it.... can the chickenpox be harmful for some children? How did you decide whether your children received it or not?

[denimtiger]

I would say that if you're NOT worried about them getting chickenpox when they're young, but you are worried about them getting it as teenagers/adults, then you have UNTIL they are teenagers to make that decision -- at some point you may have the chance to expose them to the natural illness (plenty of people skip the CP vax, the vax is not even close to 100% effective, and children who are exposed to shingles can get CP). Once they're teenagers, your children can help make the decision with you.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by Proxi

The question: I would want to raise my children the same way as I was in terms of the chickenpox. However, if all the kids around them are getting the vaccine, there will be no way to expose them to the virus naturally. I certainly wouldn't want them to get it as an adult, but I am not comfortable with the vaccine. I don't even understand why people bothered developing it.... can the chickenpox be harmful for some children? How did you decide whether your children received it or not?

Your kids can get cp from a newly vaccinated child who is a carrier since it is an active virus vaccine (live virus). Also if they are exposed to anyone with shingles they can get cp. I don't think there should be a worry about it since if they don't get it as a child, how are they supposed to get it as adults?

We've exposed our grandchildren several times to cp and none have come down with the symptoms. Chances are they already had immunity. Their father never had cp and when tested for med school showed full immunity to it. So, some kids do get immunity without having "had" it.

Why did they bother bringing out a cp vax? Same reason why they brought out any vaccine: $$$$

In my generation the CDC stated there was no need for a measles vaccine since it was such a mild disease. Then when they did bring out the vaccine they called measles a "killer".

All infections can be harmful for some children but the vast majority have no problems with any of them including cp. Some people believe childhood diseases serve a purpose of priming the immune system to ward off cancer and other much more devastating diseases. We have come to believe that as well and therefore see no purpose for any vaccine. Our 3 grandchildren are completely vaccine-free.

[medusaatemydog]

i had chicken pox.. it was itchy but i thought it was funny because all my other friends caught it from me... i snickered and itched for 3 days with the thought that my friends were itching along w/me.. there was no real 'sickness' just that darned rash.. and i think it sad that they want to vaccinate children for this..

they claim a pandemic is for a pop with no natural immunity to a disease... they are creating massive potential for future pandemics for diseases that were once relatively harmless for most children and ended the natural immunity in the adult pop... they are creating an atmosphere of fear for the control and profits over a population.. any doctor that refuses, coerces or even bats an eye at someone over the choice not to vaccinate should not be practicing medicine.. there is no need for the amount of pill junkie profit mongering people with liscenses that call themselves doctors.. notice the jump in practicing pediatricians when vaccines became mandatory... the song of the day in colleges was that pediatrics is an exploding field, that there was a growing need for peds.. but they created it/mandatory vaccination.. we have a generation of immune and neurologically defunct children.. mine almost being one of them.. he may actually have been compromised in some way.. he did get some of them until we had a problem and the whole situation .. the doctors explanation... and then when you research it just gets soo creepy.. whatever the case may be it has to change..

[Marnica]

I agree with above posters...you have plenty of time to expose your child and can get titres done when they are teens if they haven't shown any clinical symptoms. If you are not comfortable with the vaccine then you shouldn't get it. Listen to your intuition. BTW I had CP as an adult. It sucked but I'm fine...no serious complications. As crappy as it was I would do it all over again vs getting that vaccine.

[tanyalynn]

As a practical matter, chickenpox still seems to be circulating, so you probably will be able to expose your kids.

I'm putting together a toolbox of ideas, mostly nutritional support so far, good sick-kid foods as well, on how to support the kids through illnesses. Add that to a bit of specific knowledge of different types of illnesses, and I think we should come through all these illnesses pretty well. Some won't be fun, but we should be fine.

The chickenpox vaccine is supposed to be helpful in an economic sense, since parents shouldn't have to miss work to care for sick kids, and kids won't have to miss school. That was a significant part of the decision to put it on the schedule for all kids.

[columbusmomma]

I am a school nurse. Each year children in my buildings get chickenpox. In our district the only children "required" to get the vax are those grades K-2. And they are "required" to have 1 dose although 2 are "recommended". I've seen children who have gotten 1 dose,2 doses, and no vax get CP. I think you will have plenty of opportunity to have your children be exposed to it naturally, despite many children having the vax. I hope my kids get CP!

[Emmeline II]

You can either leave open the 'opportunity' that they will contract chicken pox or you can vax for it and they'll continue to get vaccines for it indefinitely. When I was a child, vaccinations (save Tetanus), did not extend past grammar school except for health professionals and the military. Then, as I was leaving college, post secondary schools started requiring another MMR and the menigitis vaccines. Now, there is an adult vaccine schedule.

It is not inevitable that if they catch chicken pox as adults, they will have a more severe case; just more likely.

Teens are not exempt from vaccine reactions...

Chicken Pox Vaccine and Stevens-Johnson syndrome...

[zinemama]

Chicken pox is still very much around, never fear. My oldest caught it at age 3 (and transmitted it to his 7mo brother). You have plenty of time to wait and see if they catch it.

If they don't, then you can always give them the vax later on if you want.

[Shoxie]

CP & lollies...

Well, a nice mama overnighted me some CP lollies/candies. Now, they got here a couple hours ago, and I'm not sure what to do. I was all set on giving these to my 3.5YO DD and 17MO DS, but now I'm having second thoughts.

Basically, I'm imagining a host of possible complications and horrible things that could happen and I would be responsible for this if I try to expose them. I know the vaccine has risks, too. But giving them CP will also make them sick for several days, fever, itchiness, probably a lot of sleeplessness. Ah, I'm just so torn about this, and I don't have much time to decide. I'm not even sure these lollies will actually work.

How did you mamas decide what to do? I also want to say that I'm not against vaccines, but I selectively vax as much as I'm able under state laws. With CP, my hand will be forced as DD is starting preschool in a month, so I have to either get the shot or CP itself. That's my only choice...

Aaaah, I'm ready to pull out my hair!

[MyBoysBlue]

What state are you in that you believe this is your only choice?

[Shoxie]

Originally Posted by MyBoysBlue

What state are you in that you believe this is your only choice?

NJ. I know I can file a religious exemption, but it's all or nothing after it's filed, so I'm stuck...

[Gitti]

You can file a religious exemption and then do what you want. If you really feel that you should use some vaccines, I would go ahead and not tell the school.

(we, personally, are a non-vaxxing family)

[Shoxie]

Originally Posted by Gitti

You can file a religious exemption and then do what you want. If you really feel that you should use some vaccines, I would go ahead and not tell the school.

(we, personally, are a non-vaxxing family)

Thx, Gitti. I gave them the lollis - just keeping fingers crossed that they both get CP and that it runs its course without complications.

In NJ, there's a vaccine registry - one of our peds basically forced us into it. We have a new ped now, but I've got to send in the form to opt-out of it which I will do. Most likely, it will not be in time for the start of school. In any case, I made the choice, and hopefully everything will be ok!

Thx so much for all of your advice, Gitti!

[emma1325]

*waiting to hear if the cp lollies work!!**

[Shoxie]

Originally Posted by emma1325

*waiting to hear if the cp lollies work!!**

I will definitely be more than happy to share if we do get lucky!

[ldybg610]

I know how you feel about raising them the way you were. When we found out I was pregnant my husband did a lot of research and doesn't want our child to have any kind of vax. I was kind of split on the decision. The newer ones that they've come out with seem totally pointless to me i.e. chickenpox and even an anti diarrheal?! I didn't think twice about the ones that I received because I turned out alright. Then I started reading up on them and found out all the stuff that is put into them that is totally unnecessary (antifreeze, formaldehyde, mercury, tissue from aborted fetuses, and infected animal tissue). You read this stuff and think why is this ok to inject into my child? Needless to say I'm now completely non vax. As for the CP vax, that is the one that contains aborted fetal tissue. The facts sheet from the vax makers web site lists all of the warnings and things saying they aren't even sure if or for how long it works. Also that children who get the vax and still contract CP later get a more severe case with more risks than if they were to just get it without the vax.

If your interrested in reading up on it here are some web sites
http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_...varivax_pi.pdf
http://www.nvic.org/