About Me

Chicken pox is the Methuselah of human childhood illness, referenced in medical literature as early as the 1500’s. In older times, parents often chose to intentionally expose their kids to another infected child, since they learned quickly that the disease was less dangerous to young kids than adults and older children. Modern parents can now decide to immunize their children against chicken pox, but many question if this is the best option.

Chicken Pox Virus

Chicken Pox, known as varicella zoster, is a mild disease in children, rarely fatal or serious. The disease causes red itchy sores and a moderate fever. Very few children die because of chicken pox or resulting complications. Chicken pox is highly contagious, spread through droplets in the air.

Doctor’s Advice

Some parents choose vaccination simply because the doctor says they should. Many doctors argue that vaccinations are safe and have reduced US infection rates by more than half. Another reason parents decide to vaccinate is financial. Because kids can infect others until the sores scab over, a parent can lose a week out of work while the child heals. In addition, the cost of a hospital stay from complications can financially cripple uninsured parents.

However, a lack of data about this fairly new vaccine feeds a controversy. While the vaccine is considered safe, the immunity might not be permanent. Because the vaccine has only been in use for about ten years, doctors do not know how long the vaccine’s immunity will last. So far, recipients of the vaccine conitinue to be immune to the virus. Should further study show the immunity is permanent, there will be less room for controversy. Until then, it is better to let your child acquire immunity naturally.

Danger for Adults

Non-immune adults are much more likely to die of chicken pox than young children. The disease is highly contagious for up to 24 days before the infamous red spots show up. At this point, the disease resembles a common cold. Adults who have lost their vaccine-acquired immunity are unlikely to suspect the sick child might cause them to catch a potentially life-threatening disease.

While it is true that the vaccine has caused a sharp decline in infections, which should

result in fewer adult infections, it will be little consolation to the adult who gets sick because his immunity has worn off. In addition, most parents would rather be sure when it comes to protecting their children’s health in the long-term. When asked