Chickenpox party?

[Nana2two]

I about fell out of my chair a few minutes ago when my daughter called to tell me the kids were invited to a chickenpox party. I had to go on line and research and ya know is a actual sight for parents to set up places for parties.

[IntlMom]

ok,,...so it's official....I've now heard of EVERYTHING!!

[xtena]

Not meaning to open a debate on the pros and cons of vaccination, but I chose to vaccinate my daughter. I figured the chances of her developing autism or life-threatening reactions to the vaccines were less risky than the potential threat of the various diseases, especially measles (which still kills plenty of kids in the developing world) and polio.

Yet I understand why some folks don't choose to vaccinate. As for the pox parties, some people feel chickenpox isn't really a serious disease. It's certainly more dangerous to catch it as an adult, than as a child. Nevertheless, even chickenpox can be fatal and some kids have died after attending pox or measles parties.

Tough call for any parent to make.

[Nana2two]

Im one of those mothers, It was 6 months after my son got his shots he developed autism. My son is now 20, he use to talk and he lost it all at the age of 4. My daughter is not doing it for that reason. Back then it was never questioned if shots and autism are related.To this day we still don't know.

[Radish4ever]

I'd be totally up for a pox party! Children that are getting vaccinated now are getting shingles at an alarming rate in their teens and early adulthood - To me, TRUE CP is much safer and desirable.

My DD was vaccinated up to 18 months old and then I couldn't stomach it any longer. My son has never been vaccinated.

I think as long as you do your research and (if religious), you pray about it, each parent has to make the decision in the best interest of their own child.

Autism is only a very small piece of the pie of why I won't vaccinate my kids. Most people assume that we have mercury-phobia, but that's just a very small part of the equation!

[tbs727]

I survived chicken pox. I caught it naturally, though, no party required.

[khjmom]

Wow...is that not the dumbest thing. All three of mine have had chickenpox, the youngest twice. His second time nearly killed him. I don't understand why people take childhood diseases (which aren't just childhood diseases) so lightly.

[AmyBoz]

We vaccinated against the disease. Not sure what I think about the pox party.

[Nishu]

I wouldn't call it dumb. The vaccine is fairly new and pre-vaccine it would have been a great idea to make sure your kid gets it young rather than as an adult. If I'm not mistaken, getting as a child also provides lifelong immunization rather than the 10 yrs or so the vax gives you.

It's very sad that your son got it twice but I think that's very rare.

[AmyBoz]

I should add that I had chicken pox as a child and still wound up getting shingles as an adult. Ouch!

[Jskell911]

I did get it twice, myself. Apparently if the first time you get it, it's a mild case then it's possible the immunity has not been built up.

My son has had all of his vaccines, but sometimes I wonder what if....ya know. He is an Aspie and on the spectrum, but I think in his instance it was hereditary as I exhibit almost all of the same symptoms and mannerisms.

[orlivin1225]

I grew up with an RN for a mom. She warned me against the "horrors" of getting one of the diseases that had vaccines. I vaccinated my kids because I believe that death by a disease that could have been prevented is my responsibility as a mother to prevent. I commend others who have chosen to not vaccinate, although I disagree. Do what's right for your family...

I didn't get the chicken pox until I was 13. I had the most severe case that my pediatrician had ever seen, including the soles of my feet, in my mouth and inside of my eyelids. When the varicella vaccine was offered to me for my kids I jumped at the chance to protect them from what I had experienced.

[vigilant20]

They didn't have parties back in the day, but I remember my mom sending me and my 2 little brothers over to the neighbors when they had it. I think it was just so she didn't have to go through it 3 times

[McD]

I had a horrible case of chicken pox as a child--when I took my shirt off, it looked like I had a red shirt on because of all the bumps. They were all over my face and neck too. I was in about 2nd or 3rd grade I think?

Flash foward to age 19--I was going thru AIT in Texas and got them a second time and had to be quarintined. They thought I was going to start an international epidemic b/c a lot of the soldiers in my company were headed to Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

I can't say that I relish the thought of sending kids to a party to get them sick--but to each their own, I guess.

[Nana2two]

My daughter called and talked it over with doctor.He said children now are not allowed to start school without vaccination if they have have never had the pox.I know 2 teens that have shingles and its so painful.. When i was younger i had the measles and mumps.