MMR/Chicken Pox.... Vaccinations

sohappy14 · January 2012

I am from the 6-9 month boards , but I was wondering who received these shots and did you get them separate and at what age was your LO? I am going to be honest and tell you the chicken pox vac worries me since it is so new and no one knows the longterm effects...

kg_08 · January 2012

This is one of those things that you really need to research and decide for yourself.

DD did have the MMR and chicken pox vaccine together, and it was either at 9 or 12 months.. can't remember now. After looking at the risks and benefits, I decided that I did want DD to have the vaccine. Other things like the flu vaccine however, especially with the H1N1, I didn't feel comfortable getting for her.

Heather R · January 2012

Hmm

Is almost 17 years "so new?"

sohappy14 · January 2012

We do not know the long term effects... 25 years -30 years..When the children who received it are adults... It ia newer vaccine

Heather R · January 2012

sohappy14:
We do not know the long term effects... 25 years -30 years..When the children who received it are adults... It ia newer vaccine

Anyone who got it 16 years ago is an adult.

Whatever. If you want to get your medical advice from a message board instead of the CDC or the AAP or your doctor, so be it.

sohappy14 · January 2012

Angry person u are:) Thanks for the help!

JillAly · January 2012

MMR and chicken pox are both live viruses. You either need to get them together or AT LEAST one month apart. That is the CDC guidelines. Just keep that in mind when making your decision.

I separated the MMR and the chicken pox for my son because he got high fevers on every shot by the time he was 12 months (when the MMR & chicken pox were given by my doc). So I delayed the chicken pox for 1 1/2 months. He still got a fever both times but not too bad.

My daughter didn't have any problem with shots so she got both at the same time- at 12 months.

Whatever your view of the chicken pox vaccine, schools won't let most kids in without the vaccines so keep that in mind when signing up for classes - you might end up having to get them anyway.

sohappy14 · January 2012

Thanks for the info and I prob will space them out !

jcole32444 · January 2012

JillAly:

MMR and chicken pox are both live viruses. You either need to get them together or AT LEAST one month apart. That is the CDC guidelines. Just keep that in mind when making your decision.

I separated the MMR and the chicken pox for my son because he got high fevers on every shot by the time he was 12 months (when the MMR & chicken pox were given by my doc). So I delayed the chicken pox for 1 1/2 months. He still got a fever both times but not too bad.

My daughter didn't have any problem with shots so she got both at the same time- at 12 months.

Whatever your view of the chicken pox vaccine, schools won't let most kids in without the vaccines so keep that in mind when signing up for classes - you might end up having to get them anyway.

That is a good thing to keep in mind. You may have to get the vaccines eventually no matter what. But it does depend on where you live. Some states like MI is not mandatory to vaccinate your children. It is highly recommended but kids can not be kept out of public schools for not being vaccinated.

Like others said this is a personally decision you will have to make. As long as you make a somewhat educated decision you are making the right choice for your child.

I would weigh the potential risks with the potential harm of the disease and the risk of contracting the disease. Most kids will get chicken pox regardless of whether or not they have had the vaccine. You are "suppose" to obtain a lifetime immunity after you contract chicken pox. Some may say they are better off not giving the vax. and just getting chicken pox. While others may say it is safer to get the vax and have a milder case of chicken pox.

And to whoever said that a person who received the vaccine 16 years ago is an adult you are wrong. A 16/17 year old is not an adult. And there may be side effects that don't show until 30/40 years later. Like contracting hepB. It is fairly safe and most people wouldn't know they had it. But causes live? failure later in life. I am not sure about he liver failure I would have to go double check but it caused failure of something later in life for those who contracted HepB early in life. 16 years does not allow people to be aware of long term side effects.

jessmae10 · January 2012

I spaced the MMR and Chkn Pox vaccinations out by about 5 weeks...for two reasons. One is because my DD is allergic to eggs and since these are both grown in eggs- me and the pedi decided it would be safer. Two is because my husband had guillen barre in reaction to the MMR as a child- therefore I wanted to have that one given by itself- really just so that if she did have a reaction- at least we would know what caused it, my pedi agreed with that. Of course, there is nothing to show that guillen barre is genetic- but it made me nervous and in conjunction with the egg allergy- we thought it would be best to space them out. Another pedi in the office thought it was better since they are both live vaccines that they get spaced as well...but different pedi's have different opinions. She did great with both vac's.

Heather R · January 2012

jcole32444:
[
And to whoever said that a person who received the vaccine 16 years ago is an adult you are wrong. A 16/17 year old is not an adult. And there may be side effects that don't show until 30/40 years later. Like contracting hepB. It is fairly safe and most people wouldn't know they had it. But causes live? failure later in life. I am not sure about he liver failure I would have to go double check but it caused failure of something later in life for those who contracted HepB early in life. 16 years does not allow people to be aware of long term side effects.

hey, hysterical one: the vax was available in 1995 (so 17 years ago) to anyone 12months to 12 years old. Hence, almost every single person who got it is now an adult. A newborn wouldn't be receiving it.

The fact that you cannot figure this out should discredit any advice and information you provided.

Go back to wrapping your house in tin foil.

jcole32444 · January 2012

Heather R:
jcole32444:
[
And to whoever said that a person who received the vaccine 16 years ago is an adult you are wrong. A 16/17 year old is not an adult. And there may be side effects that don't show until 30/40 years later. Like contracting hepB. It is fairly safe and most people wouldn't know they had it. But causes live? failure later in life. I am not sure about he liver failure I would have to go double check but it caused failure of something later in life for those who contracted HepB early in life. 16 years does not allow people to be aware of long term side effects.

hey, hysterical one: the vax was available in 1995 (so 17 years ago) to anyone 12months to 12 years old. Hence, almost every single person who got it is now an adult. A newborn wouldn't be receiving it.

The fact that you cannot figure this out should discredit any advice and information you provided.

Go back to wrapping your house in tin foil.

I will slow it down for you. Obviously you missed my point. It was stated that everyone who received it was now an adult. If a 9/12 month old received it 16 years ago they would be 16/17 years old. They are not adults. If a 12 year old received it 16 years ago they would be 28, yes they would be an adult. But 16 years does not show all long term effects. Some may not be apparent for 20, 30, 40 years. Because there are small changes to vaccines all the time you cannot be 100% sure off all long term side effects.

alicb · January 2012

My DD had spiked a very high fever and was vomitting with her 6 month shots, it was horrible. I will admit this first time mom freaked out a little, but I talked to DD's pedi and she agreed to separate the shots out a little to see if that would help. We did chicken pox and pneumocchocal (sp?) at 12m because there was a chicken pox outbreak in our area at the time. My daughter did great didn't have a fever or anything!

I will likely do MMR at 15m since there is an outbreak going on in parts of my state. If you are concerned you should discuss it with your pediatrician, mine was very understanding. I also encourage you to look at your states Dept of Health info and find out about outbreaks in your area.

EVA116 · January 2012

:::lurker:::

Can I just say that whatever the side effects may be they aren't as bad as what could possibly happen. My little sister died from Chicken Pox at the age of ten. I wish my mom would have gotten her that shot. I know my mom didn't think it was necessary since all of us had had the chicken pox and were fine....she died in 05' so it must not have been necessary to have it for school yet.

EVA116 · January 2012

heckysue:
EVA116:

:::lurker:::

Can I just say that whatever the side effects may be they aren't as bad as what could possibly happen. My little sister died from Chicken Pox at the age of ten. I wish my mom would have gotten her that shot. I know my mom didn't think it was necessary since all of us had had the chicken pox and were fine....she died in 05' so it must not have been necessary to have it for school yet.

Wow, that's so sad. I'm so sorry for your loss. Also, thank you for speaking up. I think people get it in their heads that chicken pox is just a harmless childhood illness when in reality it can be quite serious.

Thank you. It was horrible...she died with in three days of getting the virus. She barely had any pox.

edit: spelling

chickaboo1974 · January 2012

sohappy14:
We do not know the long term effects... 25 years -30 years..When the children who received it are adults... It ia newer vaccine

My 22 year old sister had the Chicken Pox vaccine- so I really don't think of it as new.

Heather R · January 2012

jcole32444:
Heather R:
jcole32444:
[
And to whoever said that a person who received the vaccine 16 years ago is an adult you are wrong. A 16/17 year old is not an adult. And there may be side effects that don't show until 30/40 years later. Like contracting hepB. It is fairly safe and most people wouldn't know they had it. But causes live? failure later in life. I am not sure about he liver failure I would have to go double check but it caused failure of something later in life for those who contracted HepB early in life. 16 years does not allow people to be aware of long term side effects.

hey, hysterical one: the vax was available in 1995 (so 17 years ago) to anyone 12months to 12 years old. Hence, almost every single person who got it is now an adult. A newborn wouldn't be receiving it.

The fact that you cannot figure this out should discredit any advice and information you provided.

Go back to wrapping your house in tin foil.

I will slow it down for you. Obviously you missed my point. It was stated that everyone who received it was now an adult. If a 9/12 month old received it 16 years ago they would be 16/17 years old. They are not adults. If a 12 year old received it 16 years ago they would be 28, yes they would be an adult. But 16 years does not show all long term effects. Some may not be apparent for 20, 30, 40 years. Because there are small changes to vaccines all the time you cannot be 100% sure off all long term side effects.

all the scientists are out to play. A 9 month old would not have been receiving it then or now. It had also been used in Asia since the 80's. Is that long enough, Madame Curie?

MJHershey · January 2012

All shots on schedule.

Pox was at 12 months. He got a few spots (like 5 and they didn't bother him) then they went away. Real Chicken Pox has worse effects and if you manage to escape those you can get shingles as an adult.

MMR will be at his 15 month appt in a month.

hopkins5 · January 2012

All shots on schedule

Que*Syrah · January 2012

I might have a bad memory based on posts, but I don't think DS got his MMR and chicken pox at the same visit.

BelhurstBride · January 2012

DD has had almost all of her vaccines on schedule. (We stopped the rotovirus after the first dose; she had a bad reaction and our pedi decided it wasn't worth it. She doesn't go to daycare.)

We did MMR and chicken pox together. She's had a minor reaction to every vax and did to this one as well; she had a nasty rash for a week or so.

J+MS · January 2012

I received the varicella vax as a pre-teen. I'm still kicking and I haven't grown an extra eye ball. yet.

melody921 · January 2012

Heather R:

Is almost 17 years "so new?"

You know, this was my exact thought. It's been around for awhile. DS got all his shots on schedule and has had no adverse effects.

8yearslater · January 2012

Our pedi's schedule had chicken pox given at about 12 months with something else, not MMR. DD spiked a 103.5 fever a week later, which was "a potential side effect" and she got over it in a day. I asked the pedi about MMR since that's rumored to be a bad one, but she said, and this is true, every kid is different, so there's no way to know. A fever also indicates a strong immune response. Not that we want her to spike a fever, but a fever is kinda good when you're talking about vaccines. We're expecting an ordeal with MMR, but I'd rather deal with a fever than her contracting M, M, or R, and since the world's gotten smaller (and stupider in some instances) the potential for her coming into contact with someone who hasn't been vaccinated by choice or by circumstance is greater now than in generations prior. It happened locally just a few months ago. A bus boy at a restaurant in the next town over went back to his home country to visit family over the holidays. He came back and developed measles. Everyone who ate at the restaurant needed to be notified since he touched all of the tables and silverware.

Mind you, this isn't a thing about immigrants. There are plenty of people in this country who choose not to be vaccinated and then travel to parts of the world where these diseases are common. It's just about common sense. We have the technology to prevent suffering and death. Why people would choose not to prevent this is beyond me.

Oh, and if we want to whip up fear--

Mad Cow disease can take 20+ years to manifest. And then you die. It's incurable. You can't cook it out of tainted beef. So you're worried about a vaccine that has been tested and given to millions of kids mostly without serious incident. Meanwhile, the USDA doesn't have enough inspectors to go around, so that burger you're eating might just kill you, and you'll never see it coming. I'd get vaccinated and stay away from hamburger.