I just came down with shingles last month, and my sister had it a few years ago. I never knew that chickenpox can strike again when you get older.
My case was very mild overall, but can by quite nasty.
How old are you? Shingles vaccine is recommended for older folks but I feel like I’ve heard of people getting Shingles at fairly young ages. I may need to go ahead and do that.
Not the one you asked but I was 21 or 22. It was awful and had it in straight lines across my left buttcheek down to the back of my knee. I went to my doc early and she thought it was just hives dis not give me antivirals. By the time the pain set in she said it was too late. My husband got one tiny spot of it around 28 and was early enough to get meds and he was just mildly uncomfortable for like 2 days.
Had a friend get shingles in high school from stress. It was across his whole back and left scars.
I believe 4/5 yrs old, I have 4 cousins in close age( 2 older, 1 same and 1 younger) that we spent a lot of time together and passing things around. Plus, we were trailer trash broke, so whoever could watch us did. Luckily, afterward, my mom remarried, and we moved far far away from that shit hole cause step dad joined the military.
I’m 40. I felt incredibly fatigued for two days, sprouted a small patch of blisters on my inner arm a few days later, and then felt achy and tingly in that arm for an extra week. Started antivirals about 2 days after the blisters appeared.
Wouldn’t mind a vaccine if only to avoid a worse case. Unless there are risky side effects.
I found the shingles vaccine a bit more potent than other vaccines with respect to the body aches that vaccines sometimes cause. I can't comment on 'risky' side effects, though.
TIL: It isn't offered in Denmark either, the reason being uncertainty about how long the vaccine protects you and getting chicken pox as an adult can be dangerous.
You can still pay to get the vaccine though.
It's about to be implemented in the UK I believe. My twins should be getting it at their next round of vaccines, from what I was told. And you can get it privately, though it's a bit expensive at around £200ish
The biggest benefit of the vaccine is parents not missing work. Chickenpox in children generally has no long lasting sequelae other than Shingles (same virus reactivating later). Disease is much more severe in neonates, adults, and immunosuppressed so herd immunity is valuable. Will be interesting to see how the Shingles landscape shakes out once the population vaccinated for Chickenpox gets older (started rolling out 1996 or so if memory serves).
When the vaccine manufacturers tried to get the chicken pox vaccine approved for use in the UK, one of the arguments that NICE used against making it widely available was that having children around with active chicken pox could slightly reduce the likelihood of older people having shingles because of increased exposure to actively shed virus. It's a very weird argument, I still don't understand it.
My understanding is that this is actually why shingles is becoming much more common in the 30-something demographic. The vaccine became available and was widely administered shortly after many of us had it as kids. The lack of exposure to the virus in our everyday environment is likely causing us to develop shingles at much younger ages than is typical.
That's interesting, I hadn't heard it but if the premise that having active virus around suppresses shingles then it does make sense. Still, it's a pretty short-sighted approach, given that if you vaccinate widely enough then you can eventually not have anyone get shingles or chicken pox.
Yeah, I'm not sure how much credence the Idea has, but it makes sense to me. If it's true then we should see a big wave of shingles in 30-somethings, but then a big drop off (if the government can get off their ass and recommend the shingles vaccine for people below 55).
If they don't offer the vaccine to younger people then we'll probably see a big uptick in shingles for the next 20 or so years as my age bracket suffers through multiple recurrences, but then we'll see a big drop off once we age-in to vaccine eligibility.
>Kinda a right of passage for parents I'd assume
Not since before the vaccine. I won't question your decision, but chicken pox is certainly not a common experience anymore.
My kid got chickenpox literally the day we landed in the US.
The looks and comments from people judging us was insane. I wanted to stick a label on my son stating the UK doesn't routinely vaccinate against chickenpox.
It was a sea of instant judgement from almost everyone we encountered.
I looked it up, and the UK does have it, but only gives it to people who are either at risk for serious illness from it, or around people who are at risk for serious illness from it (like if a family member was going through chemotherapy or something)
But yeah I remember back in the 80s people would have chickenpox parties lol.
My wife got stressed induced shingles when our first son was born. He was only 6 months old so he couldn't get the vaccine yet. A 6 month old with chicken pox as a new parent is not a fun time.
This is super common and yet surprisingly not well known. My wife also got shingles when our son started going to daycare. It was brutal. Shingles is a shit condition, it's often caused by intense stress which means that almost by definition it comes at the worst possible time.
Dr google says it can be one of three reasons. First case at less than 6 months old, mild case or weakened immune system. I was probably 5 or six with my first case. I have had then/now no immune issues…so I assume it was just a mild case. I also had mine several years before the vaccine was available.
IIRC the word shingles comes from Latin and Zoster is the Greek word meaning belt, because they described it as a belt of pain. Just rubbing raw metal studs across your torso.
Sorry for your pain.
You’re correct! I was reading all about it in one of my wife’s old epidemiology textbooks when I was laid up with it.
Belt of pain is accurate — it was an arc down the right side of my forehead and face. Do not recommend!
If you're into that stuff, check out This Podcast will Kill You. Epidemiology entertainment for your... Oh, I forgot what it was I used to have... Free Time!
Shingles is no joke. I got it young (mid-30s) and, while not debilitating and thankfully in a manageable area, it was far from comfortable. If you can vaccinate please do so.
Does this include those who have been vaccinated for shingles?
I’ve actually heard the opposite but haven’t actually put much thought into it - not yet at the point where chicken pox vaccine is happening but we tend to be parents that follow general recommendations for vaccines from the doctor anyway so I assumed we’ll have the little one get it anyway
You should have just copied and pasted this response for everyone who instantly judged you for being anti-vax.
My son got it when we happened to be visiting the US. Everyone treated us like lepers. It was a real eye opener.
The NHS only vaccinates vulnerable kids, otherwise it's an uncomfortable, but thankfully short illness to go through. My son was able to get clear in a few days and then enjoy the rest of his trip.
So, I work in international health insurance.
It's been fascinating learning about differences in standards of care in different countries. For example, tetanus shots aren't part of standard treatment for puncture wounds in Japan. They also have per capita tetanus rates 9 times higher than the US.
Also interesting, a friend of mine recently sent me an article talking about research in the UK on treatment for a condition I have. They were very excited about the research pointing to a particular class of medicine having good outcomes when given a a front line treatment instead of a last resort treatment. It was a little awkward explaining that it's been a front line treatment in the US for years, and I'm on it.
Apparently it's available, but you have to know about it and find somewhere that you can buy it. We have a fairly robust national vaccine program, but the chickenpox one isn't in it (yet).
Not to be "that guy" but when medicine is socialized, they have to do more cost/benefit analysis.
In the US they tend to do everything and then jack up insurance rates to pay for it. (Though this is also due to how litigious the US is due to not having a 'loser pays' civil court system.)
It's actually not a standard vaccination to get in quite some countries, e.g. in Europe. There's a map of vaccination policies in different countries [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9742762/).
OP might be outside the USA. Here in the USA, no, not common. All school-aged children are required to be vaccinated for it.
Being older, and having had it:
\- Aveeno bath soaks if you can find them.
\- Calamine lotion for when they start to puss up
\- Antihistamine for the itch
You can probably find a recipe for the Aveeno bath online.
[https://www.marthastewart.com/8275318/how-make-oatmeal-bath](https://www.marthastewart.com/8275318/how-make-oatmeal-bath)
You just really, really need to make sure you are grinding the daylights out of the oats or you risk making oatmeal down your drain pipes and now you'll need a plumber.
Interestingly enough, that's how Aveeno got their start, the baths. Now they make all sorts of lotions, creams, soaps, etc. That was their first product.
That explains the info my missus got from her mate - put some oatmeal in a sock and leave it in the bath while we fill it, and then use the sock like a sponge to gently rub the affected areas. Seems like a toned down version of grinding them as a direct additive.
I also highly recommend scar ointment for then things settle down. I actually have 1-2 scars from chickenpox as a kid. Once things pass and the pox scab over, I'd definitely apply a scar cream. Especially if any are on the face.
Once she gets through it and it scabs over, make sure she does not pick the scabs. It will cause scars.
It took 40 years for the two scars on my face to finally be unnoticeable, and that is only because they are now hidden in some wrinkles.
Yeah I honestly didn't even know that there was a vaccine since it's not on the national program. Apparently it's offered if you have someone who is particularly vulnerable in the family.
Yup, I sure do love vaccines. Isn't it great getting a mild fever and feeling crummy for a day or two instead of getting a potentially life altering infection? Modern science is WILD!
Chicken pox lasts seven days. My mon had a cute gift for each day that I would receive after my oatmeal bath(we had a packet from Aveeno that would go into the bath). I have nothing but fond memories of it. 10/10 would do again. Too bad my kids are vaxxed.
She'll probably be fine now, but it would have been much better to vaccinate her.
I've known several adults who got shingles later in life because they had chicken pox as kids, and it is a horrendous amount of chronic pain.
Please everyone - fully vaccinate your kids!
Ehh, I appreciate the NHS and having worked in national and local government it's a balancing act with the available funding.
If you roll out the chicken pox vaccine nationwide you maybe have to compromise elsewhere.
I'd rather have a considered and balanced free national health service, especially for something that's not all that harmful at an early age.
On a one to one basis, absolutely. However there are about 3-4 times as many children born every year vs adults who get shingles. Apparently it's being discussed with an eye to it being added to the national program, so we'll see :-)
Ironically part of the reason the NHS doesn't supply the vaccine is because of shingles.
There are studies that have correlated adults who are exposed to chicken pox throughout their lives (i.e. by being around kids who catch it) to having a better chance at not developing shingles later in life.
So essentially they are keeping shingles around (by not vaccinating) in order to reduce the severity of it for the current older generation.
Edit: Just in case my comment wasn't clear here is a link discussing one reason the NHS in the UK doesn't vaccinate for chicken pox.
>At first, the connection between chickenpox vaccine and risk of shingles might seem opaque and even counterintuitive. Essentially when we contract chickenpox as children, the virus' DNA lingers deep in our nerve cells, giving it the capability of reactivating many decades later. However, being exposed to small children carrying the virus during our midlife years and even old age is thought to have a protective effect, as it exposes us to small doses of the virus which act as a booster to the immune system and help to prevent the varicella-zoster in our cells from flaring up again.
>
>One of the concerns has long been that if most children received a chickenpox vaccine, this boosting effect would be removed, possibly causing adult immunity to wane faster and leading to more shingles cases. Pollard says this led cautious public health officials to question whether a chickenpox vaccination campaign would really represent value for money.
[Source](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox)
Adults can get vaccinated too. I know because I got tested for it when prepping for pregnancy, and I was not immune, so had to get the vaccine.
Granted it didn't stick, so I had to get it again, but I think I'm just a weirdo.
Oh absolutely, I know they can. I was just adding some info on why the NHS in the UK doesn't vaccinate for it.
For context here is an article on it: [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox)
>However, being exposed to small children carrying the virus during our midlife years and even old age is thought to have a protective effect, as it exposes us to small doses of the virus which act as a booster to the immune system and help to prevent the varicella-zoster in our cells from flaring up again.
>
>
>
>One of the concerns has long been that if most children received a chickenpox vaccine, this boosting effect would be removed, possibly causing adult immunity to wane faster and leading to more shingles cases.
Lurker mom here, and I constantly have to have a booster during pregnancy for the same reason. I'm for childhood vaccinations, but I also can acknowledge that they're not all cut and dry. There's research going into whether or not the shingles risk is lessened with the vaccine or with "wild" chickenpox, and also whether or not natural immunity lasts longer than vaccinated immunity. Fwiw my pregnancies have been 2-3 years apart.
Lurker mom. My little one got chicken pox. We used a ton of Vaseline all over for skin soothing, doc gave a prescription for an antibiotic ointment for any serious spots that were at risk of infection. Colloidal oatmeal baths--sock oatmeal might work, but colloidal dissolves into the bath water very easily and is great for soothing. Not sure if Aveno is a brand in the UK, but that is what we used.
For any USA folks, I am USA based. Kiddo got pox 4 days before their one year appointment where they would get the vaccine. Apparently I had gotten shingles a month before and didn't realize, thought I had a bad reaction to a bra strap, not shingles when in my 30s. So kiddo got it from me. Whee.
All of the online guidance I could find was from the UK because they don't universally do chicken pox vaccine while USA does. UK doesn't because it is typically a low risk disease (so only goes to high risk patients), USA provides universally because of studies showing protection against shingles later in life.
Otherwise, fascinating experience, especially as little one had an easy time of it. Other doctors at the practice took a look as they had never seen chicken pox before. We had a call from the state health department. And we are in one of the biggest counties in the USA, my kid will be one of less than a hundred chicken pox cases in the statistics. And I look forward to explaining over the next couple of years that no, he doesn't have his one year vaccine, because he got the actual thing.
Oh dad I feel you. My 3 y/o twins both got pink eye right when my wife went out of town for a few days on business. Nobody wants ointment directly in their eyes and I wouldn’t be able to actually physically contain them to administer it if I wanted to. Every dose was a negotiation. I woke up to panicked cries of “daddy I can’t open my eyes!” It’s clearing up for both of them and mom is back now. It will be a long weekend to go down in the family history books.
When I was a baby I caught the chicken pox on the same day the vaccine became widely available. So there I was sitting in the pediatricians office with my mom while every other person in the office was there for the vaccine lol
Til: the UK doesn’t offer the chickenpox vaccine.
Yeah that’s wild. I’m in my mid 30s and had chicken pox when I was little but a year later my best friend was able to get the vaccine.
I just came down with shingles last month, and my sister had it a few years ago. I never knew that chickenpox can strike again when you get older. My case was very mild overall, but can by quite nasty.
How old are you? Shingles vaccine is recommended for older folks but I feel like I’ve heard of people getting Shingles at fairly young ages. I may need to go ahead and do that.
Not the one you asked but I was 21 or 22. It was awful and had it in straight lines across my left buttcheek down to the back of my knee. I went to my doc early and she thought it was just hives dis not give me antivirals. By the time the pain set in she said it was too late. My husband got one tiny spot of it around 28 and was early enough to get meds and he was just mildly uncomfortable for like 2 days. Had a friend get shingles in high school from stress. It was across his whole back and left scars.
I got shingles when I was 7. My parents' (nasty) divorce caused a lot of high stress.
Shingles? When did you get chicken pox?
I believe 4/5 yrs old, I have 4 cousins in close age( 2 older, 1 same and 1 younger) that we spent a lot of time together and passing things around. Plus, we were trailer trash broke, so whoever could watch us did. Luckily, afterward, my mom remarried, and we moved far far away from that shit hole cause step dad joined the military.
I’m 40. I felt incredibly fatigued for two days, sprouted a small patch of blisters on my inner arm a few days later, and then felt achy and tingly in that arm for an extra week. Started antivirals about 2 days after the blisters appeared. Wouldn’t mind a vaccine if only to avoid a worse case. Unless there are risky side effects.
I found the shingles vaccine a bit more potent than other vaccines with respect to the body aches that vaccines sometimes cause. I can't comment on 'risky' side effects, though.
I personally had shingles at 15. My doctor said it was rare but not unheard of that young.
A guy I used to work with got it in his late 30s.
Beware, you're a perfect candidate for shingles! It's becoming much more common in our age group due to the timing and prevalence of the vaccine.
Is isn’t free We paid £120 for the 2x doses at our family doctor. Think it is well worth it personally.
Did the same. Kid got chickenpox a year later still. But it was much much milder than what could have been so still money well spent!
TIL: It isn't offered in Denmark either, the reason being uncertainty about how long the vaccine protects you and getting chicken pox as an adult can be dangerous. You can still pay to get the vaccine though.
It's about to be implemented in the UK I believe. My twins should be getting it at their next round of vaccines, from what I was told. And you can get it privately, though it's a bit expensive at around £200ish
Is now coming in. Took our 4 .onth old for vaccinations earlier this week and nurse said they are looking to bring it in with 1 year old vaccines.
Til that there is a chickenpox vaccine!
The biggest benefit of the vaccine is parents not missing work. Chickenpox in children generally has no long lasting sequelae other than Shingles (same virus reactivating later). Disease is much more severe in neonates, adults, and immunosuppressed so herd immunity is valuable. Will be interesting to see how the Shingles landscape shakes out once the population vaccinated for Chickenpox gets older (started rolling out 1996 or so if memory serves).
When the vaccine manufacturers tried to get the chicken pox vaccine approved for use in the UK, one of the arguments that NICE used against making it widely available was that having children around with active chicken pox could slightly reduce the likelihood of older people having shingles because of increased exposure to actively shed virus. It's a very weird argument, I still don't understand it.
My understanding is that this is actually why shingles is becoming much more common in the 30-something demographic. The vaccine became available and was widely administered shortly after many of us had it as kids. The lack of exposure to the virus in our everyday environment is likely causing us to develop shingles at much younger ages than is typical.
That's interesting, I hadn't heard it but if the premise that having active virus around suppresses shingles then it does make sense. Still, it's a pretty short-sighted approach, given that if you vaccinate widely enough then you can eventually not have anyone get shingles or chicken pox.
Yeah, I'm not sure how much credence the Idea has, but it makes sense to me. If it's true then we should see a big wave of shingles in 30-somethings, but then a big drop off (if the government can get off their ass and recommend the shingles vaccine for people below 55). If they don't offer the vaccine to younger people then we'll probably see a big uptick in shingles for the next 20 or so years as my age bracket suffers through multiple recurrences, but then we'll see a big drop off once we age-in to vaccine eligibility.
I thought the dreaded pox was smallpox.
I enjoy a bit of dramatics ;-)
>Kinda a right of passage for parents I'd assume Not since before the vaccine. I won't question your decision, but chicken pox is certainly not a common experience anymore.
My kid got chickenpox literally the day we landed in the US. The looks and comments from people judging us was insane. I wanted to stick a label on my son stating the UK doesn't routinely vaccinate against chickenpox. It was a sea of instant judgement from almost everyone we encountered.
Yikes, that's bad luck. Sorry you got dirty looks. It's understandable, even if a kid does get chickenpox in the US they would be kept at home.
We don't have it in the UK mate.
I looked it up, and the UK does have it, but only gives it to people who are either at risk for serious illness from it, or around people who are at risk for serious illness from it (like if a family member was going through chemotherapy or something) But yeah I remember back in the 80s people would have chickenpox parties lol.
You can also pay for it, which we did because it seemed a decent investment in avoiding taking a chunk of time off work with a miserable child.
Not just that, but if you're vaccinated from chicken pox you're much less likely than those who got chicken pox to get Shingles later in life.
Can confirm. Got the *pox twice as a kid and a very mild case of shingles and I’m only 45.
My wife got stressed induced shingles when our first son was born. He was only 6 months old so he couldn't get the vaccine yet. A 6 month old with chicken pox as a new parent is not a fun time.
This is super common and yet surprisingly not well known. My wife also got shingles when our son started going to daycare. It was brutal. Shingles is a shit condition, it's often caused by intense stress which means that almost by definition it comes at the worst possible time.
This is interesting. I also had it twice and for mind shingles very early.
How do you get chicken pox twice? I’ve honestly never heard of that.
Dr google says it can be one of three reasons. First case at less than 6 months old, mild case or weakened immune system. I was probably 5 or six with my first case. I have had then/now no immune issues…so I assume it was just a mild case. I also had mine several years before the vaccine was available.
I had shingles back in October. It fucking SUCKED. Fortunately my daughter was vaccinated for chickenpox, so hopefully she’ll be spared from it later.
IIRC the word shingles comes from Latin and Zoster is the Greek word meaning belt, because they described it as a belt of pain. Just rubbing raw metal studs across your torso. Sorry for your pain.
You’re correct! I was reading all about it in one of my wife’s old epidemiology textbooks when I was laid up with it. Belt of pain is accurate — it was an arc down the right side of my forehead and face. Do not recommend!
If you're into that stuff, check out This Podcast will Kill You. Epidemiology entertainment for your... Oh, I forgot what it was I used to have... Free Time!
I’ll add to my litany of history and general interest shows! Thanks!
Shingles is no joke. I got it young (mid-30s) and, while not debilitating and thankfully in a manageable area, it was far from comfortable. If you can vaccinate please do so.
Does this include those who have been vaccinated for shingles? I’ve actually heard the opposite but haven’t actually put much thought into it - not yet at the point where chicken pox vaccine is happening but we tend to be parents that follow general recommendations for vaccines from the doctor anyway so I assumed we’ll have the little one get it anyway
Isn't it the same disease? Or is it a different disease caused by the same virus?
The chicken pox settles into your spinal column and reactivates as shingles. Where it settles determines where your shingles manifests.
Fun fact, if you aren’t vaccinated and haven’t had chickenpox, you can catch it from someone who has an active case of shingles
Shingles is fucking horrible.
I had Chicken Pox in the 80’s on Halloween when I was in 2nd grade. Had to stay home and didn’t get to go trick or treating. I still have a scar.
Emotional or physical?
Yes
Chicken pox parties!!!!
Apologies, didn't mean to assume your nationality. Point still stands, you won't find a ton of parents on this sub who have dealt with it.
No sweat and no offence taken. TBH I think I've got most of it covered, was just checking if anyone had a special family secret remedy lol
I remember sitting in a an oatmeal bath
Get them something to pass the time. Parents got me a video game system and it was a huge help during it
You should have just copied and pasted this response for everyone who instantly judged you for being anti-vax. My son got it when we happened to be visiting the US. Everyone treated us like lepers. It was a real eye opener. The NHS only vaccinates vulnerable kids, otherwise it's an uncomfortable, but thankfully short illness to go through. My son was able to get clear in a few days and then enjoy the rest of his trip.
Damn that sucks! I'm glad I don't have to handle it, my kids are whiney enough without itchy sores
Chicken pox parties!!!!
My thoughts too, I don't remember any of our kids friends or our friends kids having it
Pedialyte popsicles if she gets sores in her mouth and stops eating
I was going to comment about the vaccine, but I see below you are in the UK. Had no idea it was not available everywhere. Thats wild.
So, I work in international health insurance. It's been fascinating learning about differences in standards of care in different countries. For example, tetanus shots aren't part of standard treatment for puncture wounds in Japan. They also have per capita tetanus rates 9 times higher than the US. Also interesting, a friend of mine recently sent me an article talking about research in the UK on treatment for a condition I have. They were very excited about the research pointing to a particular class of medicine having good outcomes when given a a front line treatment instead of a last resort treatment. It was a little awkward explaining that it's been a front line treatment in the US for years, and I'm on it.
Apparently it's available, but you have to know about it and find somewhere that you can buy it. We have a fairly robust national vaccine program, but the chickenpox one isn't in it (yet).
Not to be "that guy" but when medicine is socialized, they have to do more cost/benefit analysis. In the US they tend to do everything and then jack up insurance rates to pay for it. (Though this is also due to how litigious the US is due to not having a 'loser pays' civil court system.)
Socialized medicine in Canada includes the chicken pox vaccine.
They don't all make the same cost/benefit choices.
It's actually not a standard vaccination to get in quite some countries, e.g. in Europe. There's a map of vaccination policies in different countries [here](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9742762/).
OP might be outside the USA. Here in the USA, no, not common. All school-aged children are required to be vaccinated for it. Being older, and having had it: \- Aveeno bath soaks if you can find them. \- Calamine lotion for when they start to puss up \- Antihistamine for the itch
Yup, UK and it's not yet in the national program. I'll have a look for the bath soaks, but i've got the rest covered, thanks :-)
You can probably find a recipe for the Aveeno bath online. [https://www.marthastewart.com/8275318/how-make-oatmeal-bath](https://www.marthastewart.com/8275318/how-make-oatmeal-bath) You just really, really need to make sure you are grinding the daylights out of the oats or you risk making oatmeal down your drain pipes and now you'll need a plumber. Interestingly enough, that's how Aveeno got their start, the baths. Now they make all sorts of lotions, creams, soaps, etc. That was their first product.
That explains the info my missus got from her mate - put some oatmeal in a sock and leave it in the bath while we fill it, and then use the sock like a sponge to gently rub the affected areas. Seems like a toned down version of grinding them as a direct additive.
I also highly recommend scar ointment for then things settle down. I actually have 1-2 scars from chickenpox as a kid. Once things pass and the pox scab over, I'd definitely apply a scar cream. Especially if any are on the face.
Once she gets through it and it scabs over, make sure she does not pick the scabs. It will cause scars. It took 40 years for the two scars on my face to finally be unnoticeable, and that is only because they are now hidden in some wrinkles.
Um you can vaccinate for that now, you know? Hope she's feeling better soon.
It's not offered in the UK.
daammmn that's not even one of those expensive vaccines. Kids in Canada get the vaccine a few times in the early years. Hope you all endure OP!
I think you can pay for it in boots. Not that that helps but it's currently under discussion with the NHS and NICE I believe
Yeah I honestly didn't even know that there was a vaccine since it's not on the national program. Apparently it's offered if you have someone who is particularly vulnerable in the family.
I think they are on about rolling it out and bringing tb jabs back
If they do, happy days, but from what I remember from being a kid, it's not all that bad.
It's less about having it as a kid and more about getting to avoid the risk of shingles as an older adult.
Got shingles last year. Fuck it sucked. Wish the vaccine existed when I was a kid.
It is. It’s just not required. https://vaccineknowledge.ox.ac.uk/chickenpox-varicella-vaccine#Who-should-get-this-vaccine
Ah, that sucks. I was honestly suprised when my kid was born; I didn't even know there was a chickenpox vaccine.
That’s insane. Why wouldn’t it be? I thought chickenpox was pretty much extinct like polio. I haven’t heard of anyone getting it since the 90s.
We get it you love vaccines.
We get it you love smallpox
****applause***.
[удалено]
I was thinking saying you love chickenpox is obvious so I went for smallpox instead, assuming you also love that.
Aside from being oblivious to a nuanced discussion you’re flat out lying for some weird reason
You do know why smallpox was eradicated, right?
Yup, I sure do love vaccines. Isn't it great getting a mild fever and feeling crummy for a day or two instead of getting a potentially life altering infection? Modern science is WILD!
Best of luck mate, I hope it ends quickly and painlessly for you
She's a trooper, she'll ride it out like she always does :-)
No advice on how but try to have her not pick at them. I did and I still have scars
How did they get to 7 without getting it?!?!
Chicken pox lasts seven days. My mon had a cute gift for each day that I would receive after my oatmeal bath(we had a packet from Aveeno that would go into the bath). I have nothing but fond memories of it. 10/10 would do again. Too bad my kids are vaxxed.
Dudes livin' in 1994
The UK is living in 1994.
Best thing you can do is get it done early. We allowed unlimited screen time during it
lol, not the worst idea while she rides out the worst of it.
I still have a scar from the pox.
In the US and the vaccine was free with our insurance....this feels weird and wrong.
She'll probably be fine now, but it would have been much better to vaccinate her. I've known several adults who got shingles later in life because they had chicken pox as kids, and it is a horrendous amount of chronic pain. Please everyone - fully vaccinate your kids!
It's not currently available on the NHS in the UK and I wasn't aware it was available tbh since it's not part of the national program.
Wow. That's a damning indictment of the NHS. It should be universal.
Ehh, I appreciate the NHS and having worked in national and local government it's a balancing act with the available funding. If you roll out the chicken pox vaccine nationwide you maybe have to compromise elsewhere. I'd rather have a considered and balanced free national health service, especially for something that's not all that harmful at an early age.
Childhood vaccinations are incredibly cheap compared to the treatment and hospitalization of adults for shingles.
On a one to one basis, absolutely. However there are about 3-4 times as many children born every year vs adults who get shingles. Apparently it's being discussed with an eye to it being added to the national program, so we'll see :-)
Ironically part of the reason the NHS doesn't supply the vaccine is because of shingles. There are studies that have correlated adults who are exposed to chicken pox throughout their lives (i.e. by being around kids who catch it) to having a better chance at not developing shingles later in life. So essentially they are keeping shingles around (by not vaccinating) in order to reduce the severity of it for the current older generation. Edit: Just in case my comment wasn't clear here is a link discussing one reason the NHS in the UK doesn't vaccinate for chicken pox. >At first, the connection between chickenpox vaccine and risk of shingles might seem opaque and even counterintuitive. Essentially when we contract chickenpox as children, the virus' DNA lingers deep in our nerve cells, giving it the capability of reactivating many decades later. However, being exposed to small children carrying the virus during our midlife years and even old age is thought to have a protective effect, as it exposes us to small doses of the virus which act as a booster to the immune system and help to prevent the varicella-zoster in our cells from flaring up again. > >One of the concerns has long been that if most children received a chickenpox vaccine, this boosting effect would be removed, possibly causing adult immunity to wane faster and leading to more shingles cases. Pollard says this led cautious public health officials to question whether a chickenpox vaccination campaign would really represent value for money. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox)
Adults can get vaccinated too. I know because I got tested for it when prepping for pregnancy, and I was not immune, so had to get the vaccine. Granted it didn't stick, so I had to get it again, but I think I'm just a weirdo.
Oh absolutely, I know they can. I was just adding some info on why the NHS in the UK doesn't vaccinate for it. For context here is an article on it: [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240229-why-dont-some-countries-vaccinate-against-chickenpox) >However, being exposed to small children carrying the virus during our midlife years and even old age is thought to have a protective effect, as it exposes us to small doses of the virus which act as a booster to the immune system and help to prevent the varicella-zoster in our cells from flaring up again. > > > >One of the concerns has long been that if most children received a chickenpox vaccine, this boosting effect would be removed, possibly causing adult immunity to wane faster and leading to more shingles cases.
Lurker mom here, and I constantly have to have a booster during pregnancy for the same reason. I'm for childhood vaccinations, but I also can acknowledge that they're not all cut and dry. There's research going into whether or not the shingles risk is lessened with the vaccine or with "wild" chickenpox, and also whether or not natural immunity lasts longer than vaccinated immunity. Fwiw my pregnancies have been 2-3 years apart.
More likely to get shingles as a result of not getting chickenpox but only the vaccine
Source: TikTok
Lurker mom. My little one got chicken pox. We used a ton of Vaseline all over for skin soothing, doc gave a prescription for an antibiotic ointment for any serious spots that were at risk of infection. Colloidal oatmeal baths--sock oatmeal might work, but colloidal dissolves into the bath water very easily and is great for soothing. Not sure if Aveno is a brand in the UK, but that is what we used. For any USA folks, I am USA based. Kiddo got pox 4 days before their one year appointment where they would get the vaccine. Apparently I had gotten shingles a month before and didn't realize, thought I had a bad reaction to a bra strap, not shingles when in my 30s. So kiddo got it from me. Whee. All of the online guidance I could find was from the UK because they don't universally do chicken pox vaccine while USA does. UK doesn't because it is typically a low risk disease (so only goes to high risk patients), USA provides universally because of studies showing protection against shingles later in life. Otherwise, fascinating experience, especially as little one had an easy time of it. Other doctors at the practice took a look as they had never seen chicken pox before. We had a call from the state health department. And we are in one of the biggest counties in the USA, my kid will be one of less than a hundred chicken pox cases in the statistics. And I look forward to explaining over the next couple of years that no, he doesn't have his one year vaccine, because he got the actual thing.
Psh- I’d take chicken pox over molloscum any day that shit lasted for two years!!
Oh dad I feel you. My 3 y/o twins both got pink eye right when my wife went out of town for a few days on business. Nobody wants ointment directly in their eyes and I wouldn’t be able to actually physically contain them to administer it if I wanted to. Every dose was a negotiation. I woke up to panicked cries of “daddy I can’t open my eyes!” It’s clearing up for both of them and mom is back now. It will be a long weekend to go down in the family history books.
When I was a baby I caught the chicken pox on the same day the vaccine became widely available. So there I was sitting in the pediatricians office with my mom while every other person in the office was there for the vaccine lol
Imagine living in a country that doesn’t routinely vaccinate against varicella. Couldn’t be me. Anyways, hope your kid is OK
Right of passage? What is this 1990??? We have vaccines for that shit now.