Please read this link on vaccines

Thank yu for all the advice

I was also in two minds about the MMR vaccine but I have made the appointment fo r this Friday. Also decided that I should take the day off & Joshua & I can go out for ice-cream afterwards.

I must share with you that, we go to Wilgers Baby Clinic. Both Joshua & I absolutely love Sister Jackie. She prays for the baby before the jab and then holds & cuddles the baby afterwards. I think that is so sweet and I can see that when Joshua sees Sister Jackie:

1. He knows whats coming
2. He's not scared
and 3. He loves being cuddle by her

So off to Wilgers on Friday

B had chickenpox now during dec holiday. She wasn't very sick, had a few pox but nothing that's going to leave permanent scars though.

There was a huge freak out at her school because of the girl that had it first. She got pox on the monday and the parents wanted her out of school the tuesday when they realised what it was. I was just like - whatever - those who are going to get it caught it already because you can get it 3 to 5 days (depending on where you read) before the pox appear. Have also read that you can still get the shot within 72 hours of exposure but it's out of stock so what can you do. Meh

Chickenpox was quite nasty for the three of us kids. We all got it a week after each other which meant that there were kids with chickenpox in our house for minimum of 3 weeks. As for the scarring I think it depends on how bad it is. I didn't get many spots but the ones I got were huge and have left nasty scars.

I would rather immunise if I can and I use the privates which tent to give fewer side effects.

I must warn you though that Dylan had the measles (not mmr) and about 10 days later broke out in a scary rash, happened to get really sick (another bug) and landed up in hospital with other kids with measles on a drip. He was fine as he had had the inj but got some of the side effects like a rash.

Casandra will be having the chicken pox vac as well, for the same reasons that RM has mentioned above, but also because I'd rather put her through a few minutes of discomfort than a week or more of sickness. It just makes sense to me.

Claudia_B - the reason I disagree with your statement is that chicken pox has your child off school for at least a week. The result is that unless you are a SAHM or have a live-in maid, means that either you or your partner are off work for a week.

Of course if you have more than one child you woudl times that week by how many kids you have as odds are they will not be infected together, but pass the infection on and thus more time off work.

But that being said - the reason I LOVE - totally LOVE - the immunisation is that I can toddle along to a (private) clinic pay them R425.00 and be assured that my child is not going to be scarred with chicken pox.

The infection is really nothing more than a fever and flu-like symptoms, the bigger issue is that some kids walk away from CP with hellish scarring.

Fortunately I walked away with only one or two minor pit marks on the inside on my wrists, however I have two friends who have terrible scarring on thier faces.

R425.00 seems like a good price to pay for a almost guarantee of not more time off work, no sick baby and almost a guarantee of no scarring.

So I disagree that the chicken pox is a stupid immunisation. My daughter is 18 months, and I am waiting for her tonsilitis to clear up and then I will be skipping down to the clinic wtih a smile of my face and R425.00 in my grubby little paws.

Ok, well that settles it...
Off to the clinic for the measles jab!!!! Can.not.do.drip

The only two injections not on the govenrment schedule are the MMR and chickenpox. Measles is done on its own..

If I have a girl I'll give her the MMR before she goes to high school(mainly for pregnancy complications).

Memo, My youngest sister didnt have the measles injection done (long story) she and my other sister landed up catching it during an outbreak. Judy (who had had the injection) basically had a mild flu with spots. Michelle was so ill she didnt eat anything for a weak and had to be hospitalised due to dehydration (for a drip). I think although you may still get the virus it is so mild that you are far less likely to have serious complications. One of the reasons that I think the chicken pox vaccine is stupid - most of us got chickenpox growing up with no problems:)