chicken pox vaccine not full proof

SusanJean · Jun 20, 2005

When the vaccine was first made available, I researched it, discussed it w/ my kids' pediatrician and decided against vaccinating them because there was no guarentee that they would not get chicken pox. And, based on the research, they would likely require boosters when they would be older - tho there was no recommendation for this - don't know if there is at this time.

At that time, the ped's office was "recommending" the vaccine to all children. Go figure, none of the peds kids were getting it either. LOL.

My kids got it "naturally" and now have a life time immunity to the virus.

Now many states are requiring that kids have this prior to entering school. IMHO, this is one instance of the drug company (ies) pushing legislation.

ptadvocate81 · Jun 20, 2005

I am a nursing student, 24 years old and have never had the chicken pox. I have been exposed to them at various times in my life, but never got them. I was told upon entering RN school that I would have to have my tiders drawn and mine were VERY low, so I was forced to get the vaccine. I was upset because I was told that I could not continue on in the program until vaccinated, but there is not any guarantee against getting them later on. The employee health nurse at the hospital I work in made an ignorant comment as well that set me off. She made the statement that "If you don't take the vaccine and get the chickenpox, you will be forced off for at least two weeks." My reply was "And if I do take the vaccine and get them anyway, I can work?!" She was embarassed and speechless. What a stupid thing to say! I will have to truly consider whether or not my children (if I have them someday) will take the vaccine....

camay1221_RN · Jun 20, 2005

You're right, the vaccine is not fool proof.

Supposedly, if children get the vaccine and still get the disease, they aren't going to get as sick if they had gotten the disease without the vaccine. Obviously, that wasn't the case with the previous poster. I'm sorry your daughter got so ill.

I worked in a pediatric clinic for five years and only saw about a handful of kids with chicken pox, so the vaccine must be doing some good.

Jolie, BSN · Jun 20, 2005

What was the time frame between your daughter being vaccinated and coming down with the chicken pox? The vaccine contains a live virus, and can (rarely) cause the disease itself. That happened with my oldest daughter, who contracted the chicken pox about 8 days after being vaccinated. Her illness was very mild, as was mine, when I contracted it from her.

I understand that there is some evidence that people vaccinated at a young age may need boosters later in life to maintain immunity, although I'm not aware of any standard recommendations yet.

Or is it possible that despite being vaccinated, she never developed immunity to chicken pox? It is uncommon for titres to be drawn, so I don't think we know how frequently this happens.

I hope she feels better soon!

got2luvnights · Jun 20, 2005

My daughter got her vaccine at 5yrs old she is now 9. My oldest daughter got a very mild case 6 days after getting her vaccine go figure she was 15yrs old not very fun. I do believe that the vaccine has been useful for many children however I question how many children are now being affected some years later. Thank you for your replies!

What was the time frame between your daughter being vaccinated and coming down with the chicken pox? The vaccine contains a live virus, and can (rarely) cause the disease itself. That happened with my oldest daughter, who contracted the chicken pox about 8 days after being vaccinated. Her illness was very mild, as was mine, when I contracted it from her.
I understand that there is some evidence that people vaccinated at a young age may need boosters later in life to maintain immunity, although I'm not aware of any standard recommendations yet.
Or is it possible that despite being vaccinated, she never developed immunity to chicken pox? It is uncommon for titres to be drawn, so I don't think we know how frequently this happens.
I hope she feels better soon!

Amysuenu · Jun 20, 2005

My youngest daughter who is now 8, received her vaccine at age 1. She also got chicken pox after the vacination, but it was a milder case where she had the markings, but they did not scab. I was a bit upset...

SusanJean · Jun 20, 2005

Yes, the claim is that if they kids get CP, it is less severe. I have to say that even w/ the full blown dz, neither of my kids had scars - one is very fair, the other is from Nepal, so has a darker complexion.

Gosh, I don't remember hordes of pox scarred people running around when I was a kid...

I believe there is an incident of severe complications in a small portion of kids/adults that get CP, but the development and promotion of the vaccine was to "save time and money" by keeping kids well. Sorry, but I am not buying it... I don't see CP as a major life threatening illness (for the masses) and believe mass vaccines are a waste of money - esp. since we don't know what the long term immunity will be for these kids.

For the adult that rec'd the vaccine - you were probably in a better position to recieve it - the older you are, the worse CP can be, so I would have had no trouble getting the vaccine as an adult (w/ low titers.)

Please don't think I am anti-vaccine - not at all - and my kids have gotten some that most kids don't get... but when I see the push for health care coming from the pharm industry, it really burns my posterior side!!!

Off soap box. :uhoh3:

Roseyposey · Jun 20, 2005

All three of my children had the vaccine, and one got the chicken pox not too long ago. However, it wasn't bad at all - about 20 spots on her whole body, no scabs, and she generally felt ok.

Jolie, BSN · Jun 20, 2005

Yes, the claim is that if they kids get CP, it is less severe. I have to say that even w/ the full blown dz, neither of my kids had scars - one is very fair, the other is from Nepal, so has a darker complexion.
Gosh, I don't remember hordes of pox scarred people running around when I was a kid...
I believe there is an incident of severe complications in a small portion of kids/adults that get CP, but the development and promotion of the vaccine was to "save time and money" by keeping kids well. Sorry, but I am not buying it... I don't see CP as a major life threatening illness (for the masses) and believe mass vaccines are a waste of money - esp. since we don't know what the long term immunity will be for these kids.
For the adult that rec'd the vaccine - you were probably in a better position to recieve it - the older you are, the worse CP can be, so I would have had no trouble getting the vaccine as an adult (w/ low titers.)
Please don't think I am anti-vaccine - not at all - and my kids have gotten some that most kids don't get... but when I see the push for health care coming from the pharm industry, it really burns my posterior side!!!
Off soap box.

Our personal experiences definitely influence our decisions about vaccines. I worked with a nurse whose daughter, a severe asthmatic, contracted chicken pox while on a course of steroids. Her compromised immune system was no match for the virus. She ended up intubated in the PICU with lesions in her bronchi, and was very sick for a long time. That was before the vaccine was available. My girls got the vaccine. But I do realize that I need to keep abreast of recommendations for boosters.

AdobeRN · Jun 20, 2005

My daughter ended up getting a case of shingles at the age of 2.5 years.

SusanJean · Jun 21, 2005

My daughter ended up getting a case of shingles at the age of 2.5 years.

Did she have the vaccine or cp? How is she now?