Chicken Pox Vaccine Post Reply

[mumtozoe]

Hi,

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this...

A couple of my friends have paid for their children to be vaccinated privately... has anyone else?

As I understand it, the jab was due to be included in the NHS immunisation program anyway, but has been delayed due to swine flu.

Would love to hear any opinions, and for those of you who have done it, where did you get it done (we are with Battersea Rise Group Practice) and were there any side effects? I'm really considering it for my daughter (nearly 2).

Thanks.

Thanks.

[Groucho]

Are there any side effects to this vaccine?

[kiwimummy]

we have a friend who is a neonatalogist, and she was not convinced about the benefits of this vaccine for a healthy child - nothing negative to say, i hasten to add, just did not really think it was necessary. we don't propose to get it for our kids.

[MGMidget]

I got it for my son and he had no noticeable problems with it. Like all vaccines I think there can be some rare side effects. We decided to have it because he suffers from eczema and I read that chicken pox can be worse with eczema. Also occasionally he has an asthma/croup attack and needs steroids which can make exposure to chicken pox at that time far more dangerous. Many countries do vaccinate children against chicken pox -e.g. the US and I think also Japan and some parts of Europe. And yes, its been considered here although I don't know if they are going ahead with it. The potential downside is that the vaccine might eventually wear off meaning they could get chicken pox later in life when it is more dangerous. This is hyperthetical at the moment though as no country has been vaccinating for that long to find out. However I took the view that you can always get boosters if necessary, also get blood tests to check for immunity later in life, and it seems likely that the vaccine will be more widely used in the future so that being exposed to chicken pox becomes less likely. We went to Babyjabs in Wimpole Street for the vaccine.

[Nightingales.Doctors]

It can be difficult to decide what is best for your child. However, if you are wondering whether it is worth having a chicken pox vaccine, there is some new evidence to support its use.

The government guidance on chicken pox vaccination has recently been updated. A study[1] published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases this year showed that the two dose vaccine offers 98% protection against chicken pox for children. If you are one of the 2% that goes on to get chicken pox after vaccination, the illness is much milder with far fewer spots. This shows that the vaccination is more effective than the previously thought 90% protection.

We hope that this information is useful, please do get in touch if you would like to find out more

Nightingales Doctors
Bringing Healthcare to your Home

http://www.nightingalesdoctors.com
info@nightingalesdoctors.com

For those of you that are interested in the original study

[1] Shapiro ED, Vazquez M, Esposito D et al. (2011) Effectiveness of 2 doses of varicella vaccine in children. J Infect Dis 203(3): 312-5

[anootka]

Everyone in US and Australia gets one.
I believe the cost of another vaccine is too expensive to NHS and this is possibly the reason it is not given
We had our first born get it once he turned a year, and our 2nd one will get it as soon as he turns 1. There is no reason my child needs to suffer if can be avoided.
We got ours at Wimbledon Practice, it's a private practice, and I believe the cost is £105 for each of the 2 injections.
Well worth it, and absolutely no side effects.

[AnaLy]

Hi,
I wondered about it for a while, but eventually decided to have it and my 2 yr old has had the first of the 2 jabs. As the other posts say it is effective, and most other European countries recommend it. I got it from my usual GP, just asked for a private prescription. It cost about £85 for both jabs, plus about £10 for the nurse to give it. No side effects so far.
Am happy I have done it.

[ehible]

I decided to get my daughter vaccinated privately and I used Nightingales Doctors.
Dr Benson was wonderful throughout, putting both me and my daughter at great ease. Dr Benson explained everything to me before hand and explained that she would be available after if needed.

To be able to have such a friendly and professional service in your own home is incredible. My daughter sat calmly and watched CBeebies whilst Dr Benson injected her...no crying or fuss and no travel!

I would recommend Nightingales Doctors and Dr Benson to you all for the Chicken Pox vaccine and any other health issues.

[ehible]

I forgot to write the link!
http://www.nightingalesdoctors.com
0844 241 2633

[runningmummy]

My two children were extremely ill with chicken pox and they never ususally get sick. Severe vomitting in the night, fever...the itching was the least of our worries. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't definatley vacinate. I did a lot of research and although the vaccination is 100% it means that if they do get chicken pox it is a lot milder.

In the US every child is vaccinated and it is virtually eradicated there. A few Americans I know cna't believe we put our children through it.

The only reason the NHS does not offer it is because it helps to prevent older people get shingles as the more and older person has contact with someone with chickenpox the less likely they are to get shingles.

[CornishMummyinLondon]

If anyone is looking to have their child vaccinated locally I recently had my girls vaccinated at the Wandsworth Medical Centre's Travel Clinic. It cost £90 per shot. They had one a few weeks ago and we have to return six weeks after the first shot for the second one. They had absolutely no side effects whatsoever.

http://www.wandsworthmedicalcentre.co.uk/

[MrsOctober]

My older son got Chicken Pox at 20months and it was deeply unpleasant. He was covered head to foot in scabs and had a seriously high temperature for about a week. Thanks to Poxclin mousse (highly highly recommend Poxclin, BTW) he was kept comfortable and only has one scar, next to his eye, because you can't use the mousse there.
After seeing him suffer like that I didn't hesitate to research the vaccine for my second child. I spoke to a friend who's a Doctor of infectious diseases and found out he's had his kids vaccinated. He said a vaccinated child gets a little booster every time they come into contact with Chicken Pox.
Had it done at Battersea Rise Group Practice by the wonderful Nurse Grace. No side effects at all, not even the slightest temperature. About £100 for both shots, given 6wks apart.

[KatherineHepburn]

Does anyone know if you can vaccinate an adult who didn't get it as a child?

[stayathomemuminsw11]

No, I don't believe you can, as my friend who got her son vaccinated asked the very same question (she hadn't had it) and they said no...

[MrsOctober]

Adults can be vaccinated. In fact, when lack of immunity is established via a blood test, it is highly recommended (CP in adults can be particularly nasty and as for CP in early or late stages of pregnancy....)

When my older son got CP, I had a blood test to check for immunity as I was trying for a baby. Thankfully, I wasn't pregnant, but I had no immunity. My GP said I could be vaccinated but I would have to wait three months before trying for a baby. When I said I didn't have three months to waste, she suggested waiting to see if I got CP from my little boy and getting straight onto high-dose anti-virals to lessen the impact. About 15 days after my son's first spot, my first spot appeared. Within the hour, I was on Acyclovir (the size of horse tablets!) I had a very mild symptoms and got pregnant 2wks later (OK'd by my GP because I had antibodies by then)
Hope this is all of some help to someone!