Chicken Pox Parties

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The debate surrounding vaccinations and autism is raging. Some parents are opting out of some or all vaxes, and some are even throwing parties to invite disease sharing. Would YOU send your kid to a chicken pox party?

Are you angry at those who don't vaccinate?

28 comments on "Chicken Pox Parties"

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sjones said…

You younger folks don’t remember that doctors used to encourage chickenpox parties, so that your child did not go into adulthood without having the immunity. The vaccine was originally developed for children with compromised immune systems, like leukemia, which is the subpopulation that can have more serious complications. According to VAERS, adverse reactions to the vaccine occur in 67.5/100,000 with 4% of these being serious…death, blood disorders, neurological damage, sezures, etc.The younger the child that receives the vaccine, the higher the risk, with 0-1yr at 14% of serious complications.(J of the AMA Sept 13, 2000). Both the CDC and FDA admit that a newly vaccinated child can tranmit the virus to another individual, especially those at high risk, for up to 6 weeks after vaccination.
Probably the worst thing is that a relatively mild childhood disease (chickpox) was traded for a more serious health ailment; shingles. According to Dr. Goldman, a varicella expert at the CDC, “The universal varicella vaccination program in the US…will leave our population vulnerable to shingles epidemics”. Shingles is by far a worse condition than any case of chickpox, as there is intense pain along with the itching, with reoccurance very likely, as the virus sits on the nerve endings.
Choosing to vaccinate instead of getting chickenpox the old fashioned way also affects your grandchildren. In the past, infants were usually protected from varicella because their moms contracted chicken pox as children and passed this natural immunity to their babies. The cases of chickpox will likely shift to infants, a group with a much higher risk of complications. This happened to measles, as before the measles vaccine, less than 1/2 of 1% of all babies contracted measles…today it is about 30% of all measles cases occur in babies under 1 year of age. I’ll take a chickenpox party hands down any day!
sarah said…

Very interesting – had not heard the shingles argument.
lsmom2 said…

The shot doesnt last and they are already telling teenage children to get boosters. They will then need boosters for the rest of their life. But what happens if their immunity falls before the next booster and as an adult they get what is then a very serious disease. Actually getting chicken pox gives you life long immunity. And guess what the pharmaceutical industry has already come up with a shingles vaccine which they want to sell you to stop you from getting shingles since you didnt get Chicken Pox.
annemarie said…

While I appreciate sjones research and story, I am still a big proponent of vaccines. I base my decision on my kid’s pediatrician’s rec’s and 2 other doctors whom I highly respect. Granted, my kids are totally healthy and I’ve never had to wonder if vaxes did something to my kid, but I trust my educated/trained doctors.
qualia said…

A more in-depth read on the subject:

The Chickenpox Vaccine: A new epidemic of disease and corruption, by Mark Orrin, based on research by Gary S. Goldman, Ph.D.
If chicken pox parties are going to be dismissed so harshly by some parents and doctors, I would like to at least hear from pediatricians or other researchers who can refute Goldman’s work, which shed light on “the rest of the story” concerning this vaccine.
lsmom2 said…

Like people trusted scientist when they said the world was flat. Or when Louis Pasteur was booed and ridiculed for suggesting doctors wash their hands between patients. Remember when refrigerator mothers caused schizophrenia. Medicine evolves and changes daily, you cant blindly trust your doctor, take the time to research for yourself, you will be shocked.
misspip said…

lsmom2: Totally agree about researching for yourself, but the research is all super confusing and contradictory and as a layman I can’t judge which research was done properly and which wasn’t. Also the fact that financial gain is involved on both sides (big pharma companies on one and people selling books on the other) just complicates the issue and make research on both sides suspect to me. I think the autism issue definitely needs way more independent research, as does the overall impact of so many shots in such small kids. But I am confused as to the “reduced immunity” concerns of vaccines for milder diseases like Chicken Pox. Hasn’t it been established that so far people that took both the 1968 and the 1971 versions of the vaccine (we are still using the 1971 version today) are still immune 35 years later with no signs yet of reduced immunity? If reduced immunity is a serious issue, then I do understand people going for the chicken pox party option (although personally having chicken pox scars I would have voted for shots and a series of boosters myself). But is reduced immunity even a concern any more? Am confused…
all4seasons1 said…

I am a huge proponent of vaccines, my kids got em all. But…I was taken to a chicken pox party as a senior in high school – I had the chicken pox for senior week at the beach. I was furious with my mom but…1. I was too vain to scratch at that point so no scars for me and 2. my parents feared shingles which I am so glad I did not get since I saw my dad with the disease a few years ago and it was incredibly painful. So….all for the vaccines but completely get the chicken pox party logic as well.
lsmom2 said…

misspip I think you are confusing the Chicken Pox Vaccine with measles. the chicken pox vaccine is fairly new it came out in the 90’s. They tested it in Japan first so my ped told us not to worry about the length of immunity now they find it does not give life time immunity and you will need boosters, (it is lasting around 10 years) then the shingles vaccine. But since each immune system is different what if in your or my child it wears off in 7 then they have 3 years without immunity and it is a scary disease in adult men.

As far as the research, the first question to ask is who paid for the study. Like the latest study that said everyone should take high cholesteral medicine as a precaution, paid for by the makers of high cholesteral medicine. Recently a study came out of Italy that everyone says shows no link between autism and thimerosal. but they compared thimerosal exposed children to children with lower thimerosal exposure. Why wasnt the control group children who were never exposed to thimerosal? We need independant, well designed studies to prove once and for all what risks there are from vaccines. Unfortunately at this time there havent been any.

I would like to add a disclaimer, I have permanent nerve and muscle damage from a flu shot in Oct 2005. My official diagnosis if post infectious myositis due to the flu vaccine. All my neurologists agree the flu shot caused my health issues. So when people lecture me about vaccine safety, I offer to show them my $100,000 hospital bill or my wheelchair.
pencils said…

Except these things can be dangerous—a friend of mine was in early pregnancy when she was exposed to chicken pox through the child of a “friend” who had taken her kid to a chicken pox party and neglected to tell anyone about this before taking her child to playgroup. She had never had chicken pox and had no immunity. Chicken pox can be dangerous to women in early pregnancy without immunity, the child can have birth defects and slow growth in utero. Luckily, my friend didn’t catch chicken pox, but she had a very stressful time. If that “friend” had immunized her kid, or just let nature take its course, the entire situation would have been avoided. BTW, I had chicken pox as a teen, and I still have scars. I had to have some on my face removed by a plastic surgeon. I wish I had been able to get vaccinated instead.
adventuresinbabywearing said…

We don’t vaccinate.(My children have a history of dangerous reactions to vaccines as well as neurological disorder). I ESPECIALLY wouldn’t do the chicken pox vaccine (has some of the worst ingredients). But I also would not send my child to a chicken pox party. I feel like it is too risky. I think it’s best for them to get it when they are supposed to. Not by forced exposure and not via vaccine (many get CP right after getting vaccinated.)

Steph
sarah said…

tiffany and adventures, I’m getting some interesting comments on this topic on sv moms blog. I really have no idea who is “right” but I’m interested in your reaction to comments like these:

“…let’s let protect the people who can’t vaccinate their kids because of true health risks and vaccinate our healthy kids. Make a choice that benefits society as a whole, not the selfish choice.”
http://www.svmoms.com/2009/05/youre-invited-to-a-chicken-pox-party.html#comments
roomtobreathe said…

I had the chickenpox at 17 and I am old enough there was no vaccine when I was growing up. My mom sent us to every single house that had a kid with it so we would catch it young, with no success. And we always played outside with lots of other kids even though we lived in a city. It was the worst itching I ever felt and I wish I had it when I was younger, still, I’d prefer the chickenpox party process over a vaccine any day. Jessica, roomtobreathe.org
hattie said…

This is a hot topic and one I’ve long been interested in because I’ve worked with autistic children as a speech language pathologist. It makes sense to read a lot and choose a doctor whom you respect. I like what the pediatrician in this JBJ video said. Her approach seems rational to me. I did vaccinate my children (measles, mumps, rubella, polio were available) and I am glad my grandchildren have received all the vaccinations in the newly recommended graduated sequence. The rubella vaccination was not available when I was pregnant. I was terrified that I might be exposed and it would affect my unborn child since I had worked with many congenitally deaf children..due to their mothers having contracting rubella while they were in utero. The news articles and testimonials I’ve read or seen, are given by parents who believe the vaccinations caused the autism. As I understand the research from NIH and other scientists, science seems to be on the cusp of identifying genes present in the autistic children. Neurological studies show brain differences from non-autistic persons.
I have read that research is hoping to identify the genes so that early intervention can happen for the susceptible children. It is a heartbraking disorder, but much can be accomplished through early treatment in communication and behavior skills. It happens that I have just suffered a great deal with Shingles in my scalp, and it was painful for at least three months, plus I could not be around my newborn grandchild. I have advised all of my friends to get the Shingles vaccination. For the record, I got these Shingles despite having had chickenpox. As a young child, I also had measles and mumps at the same time. I remember the quarantine sign on the front door. However, I did not have polio like some of my friends, thanks to the new availability of the Saulk Vaccine.
camjam said…

Well said Ismom2. I regret giving our twin boys the chickenpox vax. Kick myself for it every day. I survived them when I was a kid, my sisters and cousins did as well after having our own Family Chickenpox party.

What was I thinking with our twins? Our Dr. of course intimidated me, saying schools will not allow them in school and more. Now one of our twin boys has been dx’d with regressive Autism on August 13th 2007, shortly after they turned 4 years old. This news after they were given given FORTY VACCINES EACH (YES 40) by the time they turned 48 months old.

What was I thinking?! I kick myself daily for not standing up and say ENOUGH is enough! Now it’s too late.

And now I worry about them getting the Shingles… oh, but let’s not worry, the BIG PHARMA’s are working on a vaccine for that now too!
qualia said…

lsmom2 said…
Like people trusted scientist when they said the world was flat. Or when Louis Pasteur was booed and ridiculed for suggesting doctors wash their hands between patients.

Regarding handwashing, I think you meant Ignaz Semmelweis, yes? Let’s give him credit, he was the first, and suffered terribly for this suggestion.
dralanna said…

In response to the shingles issue raised…not everyone agrees with Goldman. According to an article in June 6, 2008 MMWR published by the CDC, “Collectively these studies suggest that the risk for Oka/Merck strain zoster following varicella vaccination is no higher, and likely considerably lower, than that following wild-type varicella infection…” Translation: the risk of shingles from the vaccine is no higher than the risk following the disease.
With regard to chicken pox being minor illness we all had, let me remind you that prior to the vaccine, 100 children died each year from chicken pox-that would certainly be a bad outcome from a party…
chrismik said…

I have a very open mind to this school of thought – as I have done my research on vaccines and have decided not to give my children the chicken pox vax (among other vaccines). I am also FOR lifetime immunity as vaccines don’t last and they don’t always work. People either don’t realize this or they forget this – vaccines are not full proof and they are not the “silver bullet” drs and the media claim them to be (i.e. Whooping Cough outbreak in Hunterdon County, NJ – all 12 kids were vaccinated and the kids ranged in ages 2 – 8 yrs old). I also got the chicken pox when I was younger and got through it with no problems (however, my sister was 12 and she had complications – she had poxes everywhere you can think of). So, I believe parents need to be very careful before they decide to send their kids to a chicken pox party. You need to make sure your child’s immune system can handle the illness – that their immune system is strong and not battling something else. In addition, if your child is toxic (you won’t know this until you’ve done extensive testing with a very good nutritionist – I use someone in CA even though I live in NJ) or has food allergies that you are not aware of – both can compromise the immune system. You don’t want to send your kid to a chicken pox party if they have a compromised immune system. Overall, it’s a good idea but you need to be cautious. I also think it’s better to send your kid to one of these parties in the Spring/Summer/Fall. I don’t think I would do it after October or before May, when other bugs are more prevalent and the flu is around the corner. You also want to make sure your child is on a very good supplement program – as well limiting their sugar intake, carb intake, and make sure their are healthy eaters – eating protein and a veggie at every meal. Again, I think it’s a great idea but I think more thought is required than just waking up one day and deciding to send your kid to a chicken pox party. Overall, I would like my kids to get the chicken pox naturally. Oh, and another thing . . . if your husband has not had the chicken pox (like mine) you need to be careful if you do send your kids to a chicken pox party. Chicken pox for adults can be devastating, disfiguring, and extremely dangerous. I would send my husband to his mother’s house for a week if I decided to do this.
shawna said…

I have no issue w/NOT vaccinating; and I see no issue with getting chicken pox or measles and other mild childhood diseases—I had them as a kid, as did my sister and all of my neighborhood playmates, even my oldest son had them. I personally think it is better to just go through it. BUT, I have no intention of sending my kids to a chicken pox party. In fact, I find it kind of goofy.
sarah said…

But Shawna, and others who have NO issue with not vaccinating, what about this aspect of NOT vaccinating? In reality these “mild” diseases can be deadly right? Not sure where I fall on this still, but boy is the issue charged! http://www.juiceboxjungle.com/stories/exposing-kids-to-disease-should-be-a-crime
shawna said…

I’m not sure I understand your question?

I have no issue one way or another—vaccinate, don’t vaccinate. I personally grew up in a time when these disease happened, were allowed to happen. We built up NATURAL immunities to them. The more I have been exposed to corporate America the more I see the commercial benefit of pushing these vaccines; the bigger the corporation the bigger the monetary contributions to those in power who will go along with the push.

Yes, I know there is some real benefit—but having my children spaced many years apart. I have personally experience no problems with my children that didn’t receive a number of the vaccines that are now “required.” All the children are fine, healthy, thriving—some received chicken pox vaccines, some did not; some experienced chicken pox, others did not.

If a parent wishes to avoid the experience for their child, that is their right—vaccinate. If a parent isn’t persuaded that the experience is all that risky, that is their right—allow the possible contraction of the disease. If your child is vaccinated than you shouldn’t fear the exposure from children who are not vaccinate and instead have the disease.

I do feel there are some diseases that we benefit the risk of any potential side effects from vaccines, such as vaccinating against polio. But polio wouldn’t be considered a “mild childhood disease.” My concern is that pharmaceutical companies play on that fear of the more serious diseases to profit from any and all disease, and those same pharmaceuticals lobby the policy makers of said vaccines requirements and schedules.

I see no issue beyond control, commercialism, lobbying, and an infringement of personal freedom. Politically I am very moderate, centered. As a parent I am neither crunchy nor not crunchy. I fall dead center in the middle.
sarah said…

Great explanation Shawna! On what my question was, I guess you answered it :) but I’m just fascinated by the split between parents like you who say it is every parents right to choose, and that you’re okay accepting parents who don’t vaccinate, and someone like Alma who just commented on my post here to say that she takes great issue with those who say vaccinating is a choice and that not vaccinating should be your right.
http://www.svmoms.com/2009/05/youre-invited-to-a-chicken-pox-party.html#more
ambs27 said…

Hi everyone. I’ve really enjoyed reading all the comments about this subject, but I’d like to clear up one misconception that some people seem to have. You get the shingles BECAUSE you’ve had chicken pox. It’s caused by the same virus. Once you’re exposed to chicken pox as a child, the virus stays in your body (that’s why you’re immune to future chicken pox outbreaks). Shingles is a reactivation of the chicken pox that happens along your nerve pathways. Since the chicken pox vaccine obviously contains strains of the virus, does this mean that you could still get shingles later in life, even if you never had chicken pox (but were vaccinated)?
chrismik said…

Yes, you can still get shingles later in life if you were vaccinated as a child. Because the chicken pox vaccine is a live virus vaccine, it’s virtually the same as getting chicken pox as a child. The live virus stays in your body no matter how you get the chicken pox – naturally or vaccinated. That’s one of the controversies behind the chicken pox vaccine. We could actually have a shingles epidemic on our hands when all of our younger, vaccinated children turn 50, 60, 70. But, the pharm industry already knew that could happen so they developed a vaccine for shingles. It’s a never ending cycle . . .
drvicki said…

As a pediatrician I am committed to being an advocate for children’s health. As Pediatricians we aim to practice “preventive” medicine. We have the benefit of making a difference early on and caring for children right from birth to try and give them the opportunity and advantages to have a long and healthy life. This includes the administration of vaccines.

As a parent I understand the overwhelming amount of information necessary to process when making decisions about what is best for your child. Every parent weighs the risks vs. benefits of their decisions on a daily basis. From the moment our children are born there are choices. Do we breastfeed or give formula? Do we live in the city or move to the suburbs? Do we send them to preschool at 2.5years or wait until 3.5yrs or not at all? Do we send them to private or public school? These questions are not “life-threatening” and do not have one right answer. But the decision not to vaccinate or even to delay vaccinations can be.

As many parents look to Cookie Magazine for advice on child rearing I was extremely disappointed at their choice of Jenny McCarthy as a spokesperson for vaccines. This only propagates the problem of how our society gathers information that is so critical it could cause them to make life-threatening decisions. If you are going to choose one person’s story why Jenny McCarthy? If you want to “set the record straight on the vaccine debate” why not feature one of the countless family members of individuals who have suffered or died from one of these “vaccine preventable” diseases. By choosing to interview a celebrity with “anecdotal” evidence instead of a “scientist”, who has participated in extensive studies to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines, you are teaching parents that the two are equally valid, or worse—-that the word of a celebrity holds more value.

This information is then brought into my office by confused parents who decide to delay, or even worse—refuse, vaccinations. When engaging parents in the discussion about why and how they came to this decision few have actually researched both sides. They have heard stories and they are scared. It is not fair to take a parent’s most prized possession, their child, and scare them into making a decision that can potentially harm or kill that child. I have had parents say to me “I would rather my child get the Measles virus than the Measles vaccine”. Another patient refused to give the combined MMR vaccine. Since the single components are no longer being made at this time, her son is currently not immunized against Mumps—- a disease which could leave him sterile if contracted. This same parent came to me recently asking about the swine flu vaccine. This again shows the effect of our media. While she is not comfortable giving a vaccine (MMR) that has been extensively studied for many years and has been shown to be safe and effective against deadly diseases, she would consider giving her son a vaccine that is currently being developed and therefore has limited studies showing it’s potential side effects.

The problem I see with vaccines is that because they are so effective we see fewer cases of the diseases so that people no longer fear the diseases and instead fear the vaccines. People who delay or refuse vaccines because of an unfounded fear that their child may develop autism are putting their children at risk for diseases that are as real as autism but more deadly. As your slogan says “all the best for your family”, we clearly want the same things. Help parents by providing them with the proper tools to make informed decisions that will benefit their children and give them the opportunity to grow up in a safe and disease limited environment.

Vicki M. Porges, MD
Downtown Pediatrics
Tribeca, NY
drvicki said…

As a pediatrician I am committed to being an advocate for children’s health. As Pediatricians we aim to practice “preventive” medicine. We have the benefit of making a difference early on and caring for children right from birth to try and give them the opportunity and advantages to have a long and healthy life. This includes the administration of vaccines.

As a parent I understand the overwhelming amount of information necessary to process when making decisions about what is best for your child. Every parent weighs the risks vs. benefits of their decisions on a daily basis. From the moment our children are born there are choices. Do we breastfeed or give formula? Do we live in the city or move to the suburbs? Do we send them to preschool at 2.5years or wait until 3.5yrs or not at all? Do we send them to private or public school? These questions are not “life-threatening” and do not have one right answer. But the decision not to vaccinate or even to delay vaccinations can be.

As many parents look to Cookie Magazine for advice on child rearing I was extremely disappointed at their choice of Jenny McCarthy as a spokesperson for vaccines. This only propagates the problem of how our society gathers information that is so critical it could cause them to make life-threatening decisions. If you are going to choose one person’s story why Jenny McCarthy? If you want to “set the record straight on the vaccine debate” why not feature one of the countless family members of individuals who have suffered or died from one of these “vaccine preventable” diseases. By choosing to interview a celebrity with “anecdotal” evidence instead of a “scientist”, who has participated in extensive studies to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines, you are teaching parents that the two are equally valid, or worse—-that the word of a celebrity holds more value.

This information is then brought into my office by confused parents who decide to delay, or even worse—refuse, vaccinations. When engaging parents in the discussion about why and how they came to this decision few have actually researched both sides. They have heard stories and they are scared. It is not fair to take a parent’s most prized possession, their child, and scare them into making a decision that can potentially harm or kill that child. I have had parents say to me “I would rather my child get the Measles virus than the Measles vaccine”. Another patient refused to give the combined MMR vaccine. Since the single components are no longer being made at this time, her son is currently not immunized against Mumps—- a disease which could leave him sterile if contracted. This same parent came to me recently asking about the swine flu vaccine. This again shows the effect of our media. While she is not comfortable giving a vaccine (MMR) that has been extensively studied for many years and has been shown to be safe and effective against deadly diseases, she would consider giving her son a vaccine that is currently being developed and therefore has limited studies showing it’s potential side effects.

The problem I see with vaccines is that because they are so effective we see fewer cases of the diseases so that people no longer fear the diseases and instead fear the vaccines. People who delay or refuse vaccines because of an unfounded fear that their child may develop autism are putting their children at risk for diseases that are as real as autism but more deadly. As your slogan says “all the best for your family”, we clearly want the same things. Help parents by providing them with the proper tools to make informed decisions that will benefit their children and give them the opportunity to grow up in a safe and disease limited environment.
forgetmaenot said…

When I was pregnant with my youngest daughter I unintentionally gave a chicken pox party Somehow my oldest daughter ended up with chicken pox in turn gave it to her oldest brother as well as myself while I was pregnant mind you at the time I was a single mother living in an apartment complex with other single moms. Making babysitting common and cash of course a must. In spite of warning a father my whole household had it he insisted after trying to talk him out of it that he not leave his two daughters they then of course caught it and spread it to all the other children in the complex so we had the “un” chicken pox party party so to speak. My own mother thought I’d caught chicken pox and that I shouldn’t have caught it a second time which leads me to believe they’re are either two strains of chicken pox or it has to be left to fully develop. I have kept my children current on all vaccines with the exception of flu and h1n1 and after the h1n1 recall I have no regrets especially after a friend who vaccinated their child almost lost their child to the vaccine. Its your own choice people and both sides of the choice have consquences which ones you can live with are up to you.
gm0nk3y said…

“The problem I see with vaccines is that because they are so effective we see fewer cases of the diseases so that people no longer fear the diseases and instead fear the vaccines. People who delay or refuse vaccines because of an unfounded fear that their child may develop autism are putting their children at risk for diseases that are as real as autism but more deadly. As your slogan says “all the best for your family”, we clearly want the same things. Help parents by providing them with the proper tools to make informed decisions that will benefit their children and give them the opportunity to grow up in a safe and disease limited environment.” I agree to this comment 100%! Good point!
-Bob
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