Varicella vaccine

[rahans]

I regret getting the chickenpox vaccine for both my kids (ages 3.5 and 1.5). Is there any advantage in exposing them to chickenpox, i.e. would it provide extra immunity? I am concerned about them getting it as adults when it is more serious. Any thoughts on this? TIA

[Turquesa]

Really tough to say. I didn't get CP until I was 13, and it was a nasty case. I even had them internally and couldn't drink orange juice! My mother took me to E.R. "just in case," but all I went home with were pain killers. Then two years ago, I got shingles.

I had been in public school my entire childhood and exposed to CP multiple times, (1980s--pre-varicella vaccine). My immunity had just fended the disease off for a long time.

I guess my point with all of this rambling is that exposure is no guarantor of actually getting CP, but that's also no reason not to try it.

I know that a big concern with the CP vax is that it's just going to push the disease up into the older years, when it's worse. Although I came nowhere near death, I wouldn't wish my CP experience on anybody.

[crittersmom]

My oldest was the only one out of my kids who had the vax and his was the worst case and took the longest to get over.We didn't actively seek it out, it just happened to be our time to get it.

[JBaxter]

My 2 oldest had 1 dose and about 3 yrs afterward both got whopping cases of chicken pox at 8 & 11 ( or 7 & 10 it was new years day)

[janellesmommy]

I think you should expose them if you can. They might get chickenpox, they might not. But either way, it will help protect them against shingles, which is becoming a lot more common these days in kids who've had the chickenpox vaccine.

While you're at it, sharing lollipops, etc., expose yourself too, to help protect yourself from shingles. And bring home some lollipops for DH too.

[rahans]

My DD was exposed at 11 months. The person she was with broke out with CP either 1 or 2 days after she was with him. I was sure she would get it but didn't. Maybe she just missed him b4 he came contagious.... At the time, I was home in Ireland and was glad she didn't as we were flying back here within a week.
I think it's worth a shot to try to expose them if I can. Maybe next time we're home in Ire, someone will have them LOL (they don't vaccinate there)