Chicken Pox (Varicella) vaccine
By _meliska
@_meliska (15)
United States
November 15, 2008 2:30am CST
What does everyone think of the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine?
My son will not be getting that vaccine. To me, the vaccine poses more of a risk than it's worth. I would rather that my son get chicken pox naturally than get a vaccine that will wear off in his teens leading to a greater risk of shingles.
To people who got the vaccine - why? Was there a reaction? What was it?
To people who didn't/won't - why? Are you going to expose your child to chicken pox? What about when they go to school?
6 responses
@SViswan (12051)
• India
16 Nov 08
My didn't get my older son vaccinated against chicken pox when he was little. My husband who is a pharmacologist felt it is better for him to catch chicken pox naturally than to give him the vaccine which wears off in a couple of years. Another thing was the cost..the vaccine is quite expensive in India.
My husband got the chicken pox when my older son was 4 and my son got it from him. So, we are done with it.
My second child is two years old and we don't intend to vaccinate him either.
1 person likes this
@connieconstance (134)
• China
16 Nov 08
When I was young I got chicken pox from my neighbour,and there was no vaccine at that time. Like most young patients, I got well after a month by good rest and some medicines. So, chicken pox is not very serious,and that's right people usually won't have shingles later if they have got chicken pox. Now in my country,not every child has to get the vaccine, maybe that relates to the severity degree of the disease. If I have a child,and he/she is strong physically,I won't let him/her to get the vaccine.
1 person likes this
@deedeehall (1144)
• United States
15 Nov 08
hi friend -i had this shot when i was younger and never had any problems my children now have had it and have not had any problems.i would really hate to see any problems arise for your child if he does not get it and with so many other illness spreading around to our children these days why take a chance?what if he gets chicken pox and a nother ilness at the same time ?i really do think these shots are meant to help more then harm or else they would not let so many people get them .think about it .take care
@goodkat (63)
• Romania
15 Nov 08
Hi,
I don't think it is responsible of you, playing with your child's health and life quality. You don't sound like a very well medically-educated person to me. I am the grand-daughter of a surgeon and I did get the vaccine. There was no side effect of it, no reaction.
If I am going to have a child, he/she is going to be vaccinated. Varicella can have serious complications or the virus can suffer mutations in time. If anything, I don't want to be responsible for killing (yes, varicella can kill, in rare cases) my child, instead of granting him access to a simple injection that could put him outside those risks.
@JulianaRose (378)
• United States
15 Nov 08
im not responding to this because you have the opposing opinion than me, but the fact that you called a parent whos obviously worried for thier childs health irrisponsible, i remember when i was little and this vaccine didnt exist, im only 22 now, but we all lived, and quite frankly in this day and age i dont need any more chemicals in my body considering what is in food, especially meat now.
1 person likes this
@_meliska (15)
• United States
18 Nov 08
Believe it or not, I am not being irresponsible. I am being a well-informed, responsible parent.
As far as not being medically-educated, what part of being a surgeon's granddaughter makes you the expert? I am working on my nursing degree, I work at the hospital in an ICU unit, I'm a CNA, MT, ACT and US. I've done my research and I've discussed my vaccination choices with my son's pediatrician, the Peds' special care nurses that I routinely see, the L&D, NICU and special care nursery nurses at the hospital in my system, the doctors that I work with on my floor, the doctors on my old floor, the virologists, infectious disease attendings, etc. I did a lot of research on my own and in discussions with professionals before deciding that this vaccine was not for my child (as well as a few others). You would be very surprised how many of these doctors also agree, and how many of their children are not vaccinated for any number of things.
And, last I checked, doctors are not the be-all and end-all (which is also why I did my own research beforehand). They make quite a few mistakes. They aren't perfect. I have saved the lives of quite a few patients on my own, by preventing and counteracting mistakes made by doctors. Again, as for your grandfather being a surgeon, he went to medical school a while ago. Even if he has kept up to date on these things, he's not a pediatrician, infectious disease doctor or a virologist. I will take the advice of my numerous doctors along with my research as opposed to the granddaughter of a surgeon on the internet.
My question here was to get a feeling of the general concensus on this vaccine, not to be called irresponsible for my decisions and for being an educated parent.
@JulianaRose (378)
• United States
15 Nov 08
vaccines in the United states are the most used than other countries, these vaccines against common childhood malaties are something that doesnt need to put in your childs clean system, we dont know what effects any of these will have in the future.
1 person likes this
@lulumartin (963)
• Germany
15 Nov 08
My mom told me i had this when i was born. I didnt have any reactions and until now i'm fine. I'm 23 now and never have chicken pox. I hope this vaccination really works until i die ;-) Since i myself have no problem of it, i will also make the vaccination for my baby next year. I don't want he gets chicken pox one day and i could not stay around him.
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