Why are parents having their children vaccinated against Chicken Pox? This seems ridiculous to me.?

Question

How many people do YOU know who died from chicken pox as children? I recently saw something on CNN that said that the vaccine was initially made for immunosuppressed people, like those going through Chemo, etc. But that the vaccine manufacturers weren't making enough money on just those people and told the doctors that they would have to put the vaccine on the routine childhood inoculation list or it would be discontinued.

Lifetime immunity is the result of catching it as a child. The vaccine immunity wears off , leaving adults to get Chicken Pox (which is worse) if they don't remember to get their booster shots. There is also evidence that it will increase the liklihood of shingles in adults.

So, isn't it better to miss a week of work and allow your child life-long immunity? What's the deal? My kids certainly not going to be getting that vaccine.

Here's just one of MANY articles....

http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=21&action=detail&ref=510

I'm surprise how many people think that the vaccines are REQUIRED to get into school. That's not true. You can sign a waiver. So, it's not necessary to get the chicken pox vaccine for your children to go to school.

Yes, I know that there are sadly children that die from complication related to catching chicken pox... but if you check into who these children are... they are often kids going through chemotherapy or who are ill with other much more serious diseases that have already weakened their immune systems severely.

Answer 1

Great question (and answer). A lot of people don't even know what is in vaccinations let alone what disease they are 'supposed' to be protecting them from. And most people don't understand the kick backs governments get from pharmaceutical companies for being 'Pro-vaccine'.
I know what my decision is when it comes to vaccinations, I just wish people would investigate and make an informed decison instead of being sheep.
As for schools/child care centres etc making people have immunised children, this is bs. No one can make you do anything to your child. It is discrimination. Why would the people who have immunised their children be worried if an un-immunised child went to the school anyway? If they have had the injection they aren't supposed to get sick are they??

Answer 2

Here in Holland, we have a big outbreak every year or so, LOL. Last year's outbreak was way funny, DD got her chicken pox on the 1st day of summer-break - I KNEW, she'd get them, only didn't knew when - the vaccination is hardly known here at all, people rather send their non-infected child on a playdate with infected children (called Chicken Pox Party) and hope, that the children get them as young as possible, so they're done with it...;-)

She was a bit feverish and cranky for a few days, but I can only recommend menthol-powder - it dries the blisters out, which is, what you want, it helps against the itching and is cheap!
The other remedy is to have them swimming in the sea - DD did that (we live 5 minutes away from the beach) and healed just fine. The salty water makes the blisters drying up faster, too and as she got the chicken pox in the middle of a heat-period, it was a great relief (heat makes the itching wayyyy worse).

They also say, that it isn't contageous anymore, once you can see the blisters, but I'm not sure about that one.

Answer 3

My son won't be getting the chicken pox vaccine. Even my doctor said that this is really only necessary for people who have very weak immune systems who could die from any kind of infection, like hospitalized kids. My son is healthy and chicken pox are a relatively mild childhood illness. I'd rather him be exposed and have natural immunity. Then we never have to worry about it again.

Answer 4

I find it funny those that say you HAVE to vaccinate your child before they can go to a public school. Why? Are they scared that your unvaccinated child will infect the vaccinated child? It's so freaking stupid.

You can be pardoned from that rule due to religious or personal beliefs. You don't HAVE to vaccinate your child against anything.

And to the idiot that said kids are dying of polio.... where? In other countries? Not here in the US. These infectious diseases were already on the decline when the vaccines were invented due to increased exposure to clean water and better hygiene practices.

I never got the chicken pox vaccine, and never had the chicken pox. I went to the doctor because I had a rash and they took my blood to see if I had the immunity and I did. They said either I had a natural immunity or I had a really mild case of the chicken pox when I was younger. My mother sent me to my cousin's house to sit in their oatmeal baths with them when they were sick. Chicken pox parties are all the rage now, get it over with while they're young, stop pumping our poor kids full of chemicals!

Answer 5

The chicken pox vaccine is a big money maker but it's absolutely unnecessary for healthy kids.

Colleen mentioned that her daughter was already low on the growth charts so maybe her kid just isn't very healthy to begin with which is why she got really sick. That's the kind of child who should be getting vaccinated -- the ones who are weak and not usually able to tolerate illness well.

Answer 6

I agree with you. I got chicken pox when I was 13 when my little sister brought it home from her kindergarden class. I'm glad it's over with. I would want my child to have it as a child too. I think natural immunity is better than the vaccine for chicken pox.

Answer 7

I dont vaccinate at all. Chicken Pox is one of the ones that even if I did, I wouldnt be doing that. Everyone I know had it, survived it with flying colors... I would never do this one...

Look up vaccinating more in a whole. I think you will see there is a lot more there then just the chiclken pox one, but with all reasons not to do it.

Email me if you wanna chat about it, I know I have some info on my comp somewhere!

Answer 8

Let's see, my kids got the vaccine because it was required to enter school. It doesn't keep you from getting it completely. There is still a chance you will get chicken pox, just not as severe. But I do agree, I think it is completely pointless to get it. I fought it and of course the school system won on that. I couldn't claim religious anything because they had the other ones.

I will tell you now, that there was no waiver for the school we are at.

Answer 9

Some school systems require the vaccination, although I do agree w/ you that it makes more sense to just "suffer" through the chicken pox rather than get an immunization. I'm just worried that we're going to see a whole lot of adults(when it is dangerous) getting chicken pox in the future.

Answer 10

I personally thinking this world is coming down to if they can prevent it they will get a vaccine for it. I got my son all the vaccines my daughter im sceptical about it.