Effects of chickenpox vaccine fade over time

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Well this article does NOT make me happy AT ALL! I fought my pediatrician over this vaccine for years. Unfortunately, two years ago, the schools mandated that the children get this shot in able to attend in NY.

Now every reason I had for NOT getting it is being validated.


Effects of chickenpox vaccine fade over time - Yahoo! News

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Well this article does NOT make me happy AT ALL! I fought my pediatrician over this vaccine for years. Unfortunately, two years ago, the schools mandated that the children get this shot in able to attend in NY.

Now every reason I had for NOT getting it is being validated.


Effects of chickenpox vaccine fade over time - Yahoo! News

Lawren,

When the vaccine first came out, and before it was mandated, it was suspected that the effects wouldn't last (not to mention that it had been tested in an overseas population rather than here). and of course the bad part is that adult chicken pox is a lot worse than kids'. Fortunately my kids got the pox within a year of the vaccine becoming available, or I would have pursued a 'religious objection' through our homeopath/osteopath. I did get them their other required vaccines (over the homeopath's objection, but really just behind his back), but this one just d/n make sense except in rare cases.

Maybe you should find out when the best time to have DS revaccinated would be...

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Older two DDs had chickenpox at about 3. Youngest never got it, we waited and waited till the last possible moment for her to get the vaccine (which she needed in order to attend kindergarten).

We had heard that the effects faded over time and we (including our pediatrician) really wanted her to get chickenpox naturally and then she would be done with it. Unfortunately, because now so many OTHER kids were getting the vaccine, there just isn't as much chickenpox to go around.

When my oldest was 3, in 1993, it tore through the daycare center like wildfire, practically every kid got it. When my middle one was 3, in 1997, only about 10 of the kids in her daycare class got it. By the time my youngest was 3...and 4...and 5...I don't think there were more than 3 cases in the whole big daycare center.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

My son, at his 15th birthday check-up, got the booster for this vaccine. Two days later, his arm swelled up like a balloon and he had a fever. The doctor made us go to the emergency room, where they had to mark it in case the redness spread. He also had to start antibiotics.

They weren't sure whether it was an infection from the vaccination or a very bad reaction, but either way I will not be giving the booster to my other two kids. (Currently the booster is not required, but since males can have pretty serious side effects from getting chicken pox later in life (like sterility) it had been encouraged that I give it to my son.)

Sharon

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

When the MUMPS vaccine was brand new I had 3 small boys. My pediatrician didn't want them to get the mumps vaccine because he said if the immunity wore off when they were adults it could be dangerous. None received the vaccine, all got the mumps. Good decision.

I think they had all already had the chicken pox by the time that vaccine was available.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Even with all the negatives, one positive for getting the vaccine is that those who get the chicken pox naturally can get shingles as an adult. That's quite painful and contagious. Adults with shingles can give people who have never had chicken pox the chicken pox. My youngest caught the chicken pox from my Mum when we visited them. Mum was in a lot of pain for weeks. So those people who's kids have not yet had chicken pox and want them to get it naturally, just find someone who's got shingles.

So anyway, there's a plus for those who have already given their kids the vaccine. Don't feel too bad.

Another weird thing is that our real estate agent told me that she got the chicken pox two more times as an adult even though she had it as a child. I expressed amazement but she assured me it was true and she was miserable each time.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

There's a vaccine for the shingles now. too. I'm wary of vaccinations as there has been some speculation they may cause learning disorders.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

My son was born in March 1973; at that time the required measels shot was at one year of age. When he was three he got very sick, visits to the docorr's office, the er, temperatures of 105, they kept sending him home.Finally after calling all day, I forced the doctor to see him again. They said he had pneumonia, admitted ihim to the hospital as he was severely dehydrated, then they found out he had the red measels. That is when they said that they discovered the shot didn't work unless the child was 15 months old. He was hospitalized for three weeks, in isolation, with measels, pneumonia, and his blood sedimentaion rate was horrendous. Two weeks to the day he was released from the hospital, he got the chicken pox! Later I found out that a boy that checked in to the hospital an hour before he checked out came down with the measels. We were just thankful he didn't come down with the meningitis that another pediatric patient had. Anyhow, he is now working on a second master's degree in math and is doing fine, but it was an awful few months.