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Adults w/ no immunity to chicken pox. Vax or not?  

post #1 of 36
5/1/08 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
I have searched past posts and can't find any really helpful insight. Forgive me if I have missed it. I am sure someone has asked this!

My 41 yo dh has not had the pox and we recently had him tested. He showed no immunity. I need to expose my kids but we are concerned about dh. Basically, I think my choices are 1) do nothing and risk him getting it (maybe it isn't bad but maybe it is quite severe), 2) do nothing but avoid the kids while contagious (he could still get it), 3) get the vax (both doses for an adult), or 4) get one dose of the vax and hope for partial immunity. In that case he might or might not get it when the kids are contagious but it would most likely be a milder case. The problem w/ that is that every 10 years or so we would retest and then decide if he needed a booster or if we should continue to risk exposure.

Any thoughts?
post #2 of 36
5/1/08 at 11:28pm
I'll add my thought. I didn't have immunity and before I started TTC (before I even knew to look into vaccines), I got both doses of the CP vax. I still show no immunity. Getting the vax certainly did me a lot of good...
post #3 of 36
5/2/08 at 12:15am
I would not do the cp vax without an outstanding reason.

-Angela
post #4 of 36
5/2/08 at 11:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MommytoHHH View Post
I'll add my thought. I didn't have immunity and before I started TTC (before I even knew to look into vaccines), I got both doses of the CP vax. I still show no immunity. Getting the vax certainly did me a lot of good...

Very interesting. I know that they are pushing for a booster for teenagers since the vaccine is wearing off (despite the claims that it will probably last forever). I remember reading that giving it to teens as a booster isn't actually proven to be effective but they are just assuming it will work. I wonder if it isn't as effective in adults as it is in children (not that it is terribly effective in children).

While I know that many people believe strongly that the chicken pox in adults is difficult but not really that bad, I am concerned. I do know at least 10 people who had it as adults and at least 6 were sick enough that they were concerned about complications. It is a tough decision. That is one reason why we are considering one vax and hoping for a milder case if he gets it. On the other hand, I know he has been exposed years ago (to my nieces) and I know his mom exposed him. I wonder, despite the titer, if he just isn't susceptible. I was so convinced that blood test would show that he had actually developed immunity!
post #5 of 36
5/2/08 at 11:07am
There is a girl on one of the mainstream bords I chat on that has had the chicken pox vax before gettign pregnant with each of her 3 children. She has never shown immunity to it even with the vax.
post #6 of 36
5/2/08 at 12:52pm
I am not immune to CP, have no intention of getting vaxed for it.
post #7 of 36
5/2/08 at 12:54pm
No matter what you decide, be aware that the reaction rate for adults is very high -- like 1 in 3.
post #8 of 36
5/2/08 at 3:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by l_olive View Post
No matter what you decide, be aware that the reaction rate for adults is very high -- like 1 in 3.
That is good to know. I haven't been able to find good info on adults and the vax. Do you possible have any links?
post #9 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:24pm

my husband

My husband had like one or two pocks as a child. He may not have immunity because he didn't have a good bout of it, but still has NO plans to get the vax.
post #10 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles View Post
That is good to know. I haven't been able to find good info on adults and the vax. Do you possible have any links?
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/....htm#varicella
post #11 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:33pm
Chicken pox is much worse in adults than kids. If I were you I'd google adult chicken pox and see what info you come up with. Also read about shingles.

I like to find as much well researched scientific evidence as I can before I make a decision like this. There are valid points on both the Do vax and DO NOT vax side. Unfortunately, there is so much emotion on both ends of the spectrum that it is hard to get unbiased info.
post #12 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:41pm
Sometimes blood titres are not a good indication of immunity. He could well be immune for all you know. The "one dose" idea will not result in a milder case though, that is a myth. Personally, I think most adults are probably immune to chickenpox. A few aren't, but really, chickenpox as an adult is not really that bad, you just remember it better!
post #13 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mybabysmama View Post
Chicken pox is much worse in adults than kids. If I were you I'd google adult chicken pox and see what info you come up with. Also read about shingles.

I like to find as much well researched scientific evidence as I can before I make a decision like this. There are valid points on both the Do vax and DO NOT vax side. Unfortunately, there is so much emotion on both ends of the spectrum that it is hard to get unbiased info.
I have spent countless hours researching. I was hoping to find out something new here but haven't yet . I totally agree w/ your statement. That is why it is so difficult. Both sides are emphatic but I am not completely pursueded by either one. I've been spending a lot of time reading links from www.insidevaccines.com but many of the articles require membership.

I hope that my question doesn't have me come across as not knowing much about this. I think that knowing so much is making the decision so difficult. I don't claim to be expert by any stretch but I am very well read on vaccines and feel very strongly that my children will not receive any (they had some before I knew enough) until I see that 1) they are safe and 2) they ar necessary. However, as much as I don't want dh to have any vaccines I am definitely concerned about the possible complications of chicken pox. I know several adults who were very, very sick. It isn't just that they remember it better but some were hospitalized and others say they would not do it again if they had the choice.
post #14 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by roxyrox View Post
A few aren't, but really, chickenpox as an adult is not really that bad, you just remember it better!
I wish that was always the case but I definitely would not say that about some of the adult cases that I have seen. In fact, several of those adults didn't like that statment when they heard it from someone else!
post #15 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:54pm
I've been vaxed for CP twice in the last 7 years or so and I am still not immune. After the first time, I figured it was some fluke, so I tried again. After that failure, I finally started researching vaccines. I haven't decided if I will seek out exposure for DD or not but I will definitely NOT be getting this vax again (nor will she).
post #16 of 36
5/2/08 at 4:59pm
Roxy-

Chicken pox in adults really is much worse, it's not just a myth. It's not that the pox is bad, but the complications are quite severe. The most dangerous complication is varicella pneumonia. This is a viral pneumonia that 1 in 400 develop. It has a 30% mortality rate, which is HUGE. There is no treatment for varicella pneumonia other than supportive care (mechanical ventilation, etc), and hoping for the best.
post #17 of 36
5/2/08 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WildKingdom View Post
Roxy-

Chicken pox in adults really is much worse, it's not just a myth. It's not that the pox is bad, but the complications are quite severe. The most dangerous complication is varicella pneumonia. This is a viral pneumonia that 1 in 400 develop. It has a 30% mortality rate, which is HUGE. There is no treatment for varicella pneumonia other than supportive care (mechanical ventilation, etc), and hoping for the best.
No, generally chickenpox in adults is not "much" worse than child cases. Adult cases do have a higher rate of complications though, but really, long term complications from chickenpox are very rare. I said it' a "myth" that one dose of the vaccine results in a milder case, which is true.
post #18 of 36
5/2/08 at 5:40pm
A couple of thoughts in no particular order.

Someone mentioned shingles- you can't get the shingles UNLESS you've had chickenpox or the vaccine.

As for how bad it is, there are things to remember about treating- #1. using fever reducers tends to leave you open to more complications.

It's a LIVE vaccine. If you're that scared of it in an adult, remember that vaccinating for it can CAUSE chickenpox.

-Angela
post #19 of 36
5/2/08 at 6:24pm
I guess it depends if you consider 1 in 400 rare. I don't.
post #20 of 36
5/2/08 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WildKingdom View Post
I guess it depends if you consider 1 in 400 rare. I don't.
That's not a stat I've heard before. Do you have a link?

-Angela
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Mothering › Forums › Health › Vaccinations › Adults w/ no immunity to chicken pox. Vax or not?