What about proposed chickenpox jabs?

[franbee]

Do you think that children should be vaccinated against chickenpox as well as all the other stuff?
Whilst I would normally not condone the use of medicines or chemicals unless absolutely necessary, I do believe that the advantages of vaccinating against potentially harmful childhood illnesses outweigh the disadvantages. I also applaud the vaccine against HPV, to protect girls from cervical cancer.

[Oola]

Hmmm not sure about chickenpox, I had it and it did me no harm, apart from leaving a couple of dents from the scars. However, my friend was left with quite impaired sight after having chicken pox (I think there was some complication with it spreading around or in her eyes). So I guess there's two sides, but somehow I think that chicken pox is good for the immune system perhaps?

The cervical cancer jab is good, I go for smear tests every 5 years but I still worry what can happen in between the tests. When something is in a typically 'modest' area I think people are more inclined to put off getting checked out if they think something is amiss.

[sheddie]

I had chickenpox when I was 39yrs and I was really ill with it and still have scars, it affects you worse as you get older, I passed it on to a friend as well.My daughter who had it first only had a couple of spots.We still have a laugh about it though.But it's definately not funny at the time.

[Katelb]

I agree with the cervical cancer vaccine but I'm not so sure if the chickenpox vaccine is a priority.I too had chickenpox as an adult but fortunately there were no lasting ill effects,but I don't think I would come out in favour of every child having it .I don't like the idea of MMR either,have them separately yes,but I'm definately not convinced that it is COMPLETELY safe to have the combined one despite what the so-called experts say.

[eleanor2]

i think vaccinations are very good in their proper place.chicken pox is a normal childhood illness.yes their can be complications.on the whole tho once had you do then have anti-bodies against it.our bodies are super for making anti-bodies once we have had a certain strain of a bacteria or virus..all these adverts for anti bacterial sprays etc...i never buy them.you can be to clean.your body doesn't slowly build up anti-bodies.you then end up with a weaker immune system.

[lily]

A definite yes, however small a number of children die from chickenpox, its too many.

I used to think the measles vaccine was over the top until I realised the awful consequences this illness can have.

[dinger]

coming into contact with chickenpox when having some cancer treatments can be quite serious .My grandsons caught it while my daughter was in hospital and it caused a great deal of worry .So from that point of view I suppose it would be a good idea.

[jazzactivist]

I think that it is a normal childhood illness, but can see the point of everyone in a family being vaccinated if another family member is really ill, Dinger. I wuldn't advocate that everyone is vaccinated for anything, even girls for cervical cancer. You never know what the long term effects will be. I have never had any of the childhood illnesses, but my younger sister had them all. I must have been very immune at the time, and sometimes do worry about contracting them as an adult, although I haven't so far.