Not sure what to do about CP

[Shoonasasi]

Hi there,

My son is almost 3 1/2 and hasn't has his Chicken Pox shot. Our plan is to let nature take it's course and hopefully he'll get it naturally.

My husband (35) has never had CP and has been told by his Doctor to get the vaccine since he's never had the virus, and due to the fact that he suffers from MS he is at even more risk of complications should he pick it up.

Now, this is a vaccine that sheds, isn't it? Does this mean our son is as risk of getting CP from my husband's shot? If he does, is this considered getting CP 'naturally' even though it's a shedded vaccine illness?

I'm not sure if I should be protecting my son somehow when my husband gets his vaccine (not for a few months) or just take the chance he'll get it. I have no issue with him getting CP, but does getting it via a shedded vaccine even count?

I would be grateful for any words of wisdom.

[traycanadian]

There is a very good chance your dh has natural immunity to CP. Many people, including me, were exposed to CP as children and developed immunity without showing any clinical signs of the disease. Everybody had it back then so your dh was probably exposed to it at some point.

[Shoonasasi]

Thanks for your reply, traycanadian.

My husband had bloodwork done that showed he had no antibodies for chicken pox, which is why they want him to get the shot. I'm not sure if you can have no antibodies and still have immunity?

[Marnica]

yes...you can have no antibodies and still have immunity, but there wuld be no way for your DH to know for sure.

If youe DS got the pox from him via the shedding vax, it may provide him with enough immunity that he never gets them again, although it may not. I wouldn't worry about it and just see what happens.

[laohaire]

From what I understand, the immunity conferred by the vaccine shedding is very low.

But you have time. Your husband could get the vaccine, and then you could try an exposure (chicken pox party) for your son in a few years.

However, I'd be reluctant to get any vaccines if I had MS. Also compounding that, of course the vaccine is not 100% and it also does wear off. So if your son is exposed, your husband might have some complications anyway.

I don't think there is a very clear answer. Personally I think I'd just let everything be. I would not give anyone any vaccines. But I would not send my son to a chicken pox party. That's just me.

[ammiga]

Isn't there a pretty large fail-rate of the cp vaccine? And an increase in likelihood of developing shingles at an earlier age? I'd look into those issues and how they would affect your dh and his ms. I haven't read up on this vax that much, since we have zero intention of vaccinating for cp, those are just issues I think I've seen come up on this board that might be of concern to your family.

[Shoonasasi]

Thanks so much for your replies. I appreciate it.