Chicken Pox vaccine for DD

nattn · June 2012

DD is supposed to get the chicken pox vaccine at her 18 month check up. I've read some threads over on the 12-24m board about kids having a reaction to it and some doctors saying it could be contagious and warning parents to keep their child (that's having the reaction) away from unvaccinated people and pregnant women since we have a lowered immune system. Obviously, I plan on asking my OB and our pedi about it, but has anyone else been in this situation?

cindiesheart · June 2012

I know im probably gonna get some crazy comments because this is such a controversial topic.... but we don't vaccinate our kids. but I know this is not for everyone, nor do I think everyone should think the way my husband and I do.

CutieBean79 · June 2012

I guess I'll be faced with this too. Have you had chicken pox? I know in rare cases it can reappear later in life (sometimes as shingles), but I would be more concerned had I not had chicken pox as a kid. Anyway, with chicken pox I don't think there is any harm in delaying the vaccine. At least that's my non-medical opinion, but most of us survived it as a kid.

MangomamaFL · June 2012

I selectively vaccinate. The main reason I don't vaccinate against Chicken Pox is because fetal cell lines are used in the processing the vaccine.

https://www.cogforlife.org/vaccine-overview/

DebateThis · June 2012

MangomamaFL:
I selectively vaccinate. The main reason I don't vaccinate against Chicken Pox is because fetal cell lines are used in the processing the vaccine.
https://www.cogforlife.org/vaccine-overview/

WRONG.

Two fetal cell lines were used to create the initial vaccines in the 1960's. Those two lines are self-sustaining/self-replicating and are still used today. They're not rounding up women to abort their babies to continually create vaccines.

izzyjenni · June 2012

cindiesheart:
I know im probably gonna get some crazy comments because this is such a controversial topic.... but we don't vaccinate our kids. but I know this is not for everyone, nor do I think everyone should think the way my husband and I do.

I hope you don't live near me. I am a teacher and cannot get immunity from measles. I fear teaching this year because of students traveling and getting measles. I think it is crazy to not vaccinate your children. You are putting so many others at risk!

meganiobe · June 2012

I would just check with your doctor. I know personally when DD had her vaccination she didn't have a reaction at all, just cranky from the shots. By the next day she was normal. I know that every child is different though, so I would just double check with your doctor and get their opinion first.

Angelzkisses · June 2012

I use the alternative vaccination schedule. We did get my DD the Chicken Pox vaccine at 18 months. However had a major set back that the doctors now believe was caused by a reaction to the vaccine. There were no other causes they could find to cause what happened.

Kay my DD got intussusception, aka a telescoped intestine. Thankfully we caught it VERY early and have an amazing pediatrician who wouldn't listen to the on call and called the head pediatric surgeon due to her prior history with GERD. They ended up doing a barium enema, which mind you was horrible to put my 18 month old through. Thankfully that fixed it. If it hadn't we would have ended up in emergency surgery.

Just an FYI intussusception is common for kids at 18 months, for various reasons. Just read up on the vaccine and make an educated decision that is right for you and your family.

sbevmc09 · June 2012

I believe the concern would be because it's a live virus vaccine. With a live virus vaccine there is a chance that the virus can shed (and be passed to other people), there is also a small chance that she could develop the actual virus. If you've already had CP you will have natural immunity and shouldn't be at risk. If you haven't had CP you should probably be concerned. I'd definitely discuss it with your OB if you haven't had CP.

nattn · June 2012

sbevmc09:
I believe the concern would be because it's a live virus vaccine. With a live virus vaccine there is a chance that the virus can shed (and be passed to other people), there is also a small chance that she could develop the actual virus. If you've already had CP you will have natural immunity and shouldn't be at risk. If you haven't had CP you should probably be concerned. I'd definitely discuss it with your OB if you haven't had CP.

You worded this so much better than I could have. This is exactly my concern. I did have CP when I was young, but I'm wondering how strong my immunity is since your immune system is lowered when you're pregnant.

The thread a read awhile back on the toddler board was about children who had a reaction that presented like the actual virus. Several of the parents were warned to keep those children away from pregnant women specifically which is what made me even concerned. I'm still planning on asking my OB and DD's pedi, but I'm kind of thinking it's not worth the risk even if it's only a small risk.

Thank you everyone who answered.

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