Immunizations: Chicken Pox, when did you get them?

[Steeltrap]

I remember getting "chicken pops" in 1971, when I was 7. My nephew, who was then 4, and my sister, who was 22, got it with me.

As far as I know, I have all my vaccines.

[Dionysus]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I remember getting "chicken pops" in 1971, when I was 7. My nephew, who was then 4, and my sister, who was 22, got it with me.

As far as I know, I have all my vaccines.

OMG I thought I was the only one who thought they were "Chicken POPS".

[ladygreek]

Yep, Chicken Pops. Got it at 6 or 7. Didn't contract any other childhood diseases--measles, mumps, etc.

Chicken Pox is rather benign in kids but dangerous in teens and adults. Like someone said it is the same virus that leads to Shingles and can cause infertility and even death in older sufferers.

[Gina1201]

I got Chicken Pox in the second grade when I was 7. I remember my entire class ended up getting them. I had them EVERYWHERE and still have the mark on my nose to show it.

[aurora_borealis]

My friend's little brother had chicken pox when I was in the third grade. My parents sent me over to "catch" them, and I spent my birthday and part of spring break with them. However I was eight or so, and was highly distracted and entertained with all my birthday presents.

Just a word of advice here. If you're young, before you go off your parents' insurance, or if you have insurance, check and see when your last immunizations were when you have your next physical. Once we stop seeing pediatricians regularly we adults kind of forget to keep our immunizations up to date. I smacked my finger last fall at a Habitat build, had a wound that wouldn't heal, and realized I was not current with tetanus and diptheria.

When I moved to Alaska I had to have all my immunizations current (with the higher Native population a measles or tuberculosis outbreak is serious stuff, and they do not play!) or I wouldn't be allowed to take classes or live on campus. My doctor did a blood titer to check my immunity, and I was lacking measles protection. Often more than one vaccine can be given at the same time in one shot, I got bacterial meningitis and measles given to me at the same time. Many of these are covered by health insurance, and the really important ones (DPT, MMR) are not too expensive out of pocket. Not more than going to a movie and getting snacks.

I never had the pox as a kid, but somehow I'm immune to it anyway (yay!). I didn't know that there was a vaccine for it until about a year or so ago.

I got vaccinated for whooping cough as a kid, and still managed to get it. It was awful. But I'll still probably vaccinate my kids anyway.

[Rain Man]

I had the measles when I was a baby; don't remember the specifics.

I got the pox back in '81, had to spend a week home from school, but for me it was a much needed vacation. I was in LBD and had this old, witchy teacher that I didn't like at all (Mrs. Gaskill, or Gasbutt, as I nicknamed her) who made my life a living hell. So staying home for a week was GREAT. Game shows in the morning, reading my Weekly Reader books in the afternoon, it was all good. BTW, two other classmates came down with the pox the same time I did.

Speaking of tetanus, that reminds me that I am due for that 10 year booster shot (YAY! ).

[aephi alum]

When I was little, my mother was very insistent that I be up to date on all my vaccinations. The chicken pox and hepatitis B vaccines did not exist, but I got the polio, MMR, and all that other good stuff. My mother had a huge fight with my pediatrician when he tried to tell her that the smallpox vaccine was no longer necessary. (I did not receive the vaccine.)

I got the hepatitis B vaccine while I was in college. I seem to recall that it was free or really cheap.

I had the chicken pox when I was in 4th grade, over Christmas break. I couldn't get it when school was in session so I could miss a week of classes. Nooo... I had to miss Christmas.

[Blue Fire #3]

I remember gettign the chicken pox when I was like 5... very itchy! My mom did get the shot for me and they were mild... I was an infant and she said the side effects could include down sindrome... and she watched me the whole night... she said at some point she woke up and it looked like i had down syndrome... i guess she was just trippin (im 21 now)

[Sister Havana]

I had all my vaccinations when I was young...chicken pox vaccine did not exist then.

Never been vaccinated for chicken pox and I've never had it, either. Crossing my fingers that I never do!

I remember there's one shot (tetanus, maybe) that you had to get and then get a booster after 10 years. Do you still have to continue that into adulthood? If so I am waaaay overdue. *heh*

[aopirose]

Originally posted by Sister Havana
I remember there's one shot (tetanus, maybe) that you had to get and then get a booster after 10 years. Do you still have to continue that into adulthood? If so I am waaaay overdue. *heh*

Yup and you have a choice of 5-year or 10-year "strength".

[aurora_borealis]

Originally posted by Sister Havana
I remember there's one shot (tetanus, maybe) that you had to get and then get a booster after 10 years. Do you still have to continue that into adulthood? If so I am waaaay overdue. *heh*

DPT - Diptheria Pertussis (whooping cough) Tetanus


Also, regular TB skin tests are good to do. With tuberculosis making a comeback, and there being many antibiotic resistant strains, it is a good idea to be current with that. If the test comes up "positive" it isn't the end of the world. Just means you've been exposed to it, if you're not "actively" coughing up blood and such. You get a chest xray every couple of years, and take antibiotics that lower your risk of ever having "active" tb. They are free in many communities, as the pills are low cost, and if the local Health Department administers them, they know the months of treatment have been completed.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by aurora_borealis


Just a word of advice here. If you're young, before you go off your parents' insurance, or if you have insurance, check and see when your last immunizations were when you have your next physical. Once we stop seeing pediatricians regularly we adults kind of forget to keep our immunizations up to date. I smacked my finger last fall at a Habitat build, had a wound that wouldn't heal, and realized I was not current with tetanus and diptheria.

Usually, public health departments or low-cost health clinics will do immunizations for low prices for the uninsured--sometimes for less than a Dr's office copay is. So, even if you're uninsured, there's no excuse to get the vaccinations!

I got immunized against Hep A/B, Meningitis, and all my boosters on the same day once, as well as the Mantoux skin test. Not very fun. In a few months, I get to get shots for dengue and yellow fever! Woo hoo!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

We had a measles outbreak when I was in college. It was a mess. I had my shots up to date, but an overwhelming majority of the students, faculty, and staff did not. They had to distribute over 10,000 shots in a few days. The campus was essentially closed down to outside visitors, but it wasn't quarantined. It was crazy. There were five very sick students. Believe me, you don't want to catch the measles.

[ZTAngel]

Originally posted by aurora_borealis
My friend's little brother had chicken pox when I was in the third grade. My parents sent me over to "catch" them, and I spent my birthday and part of spring break with them. However I was eight or so, and was highly distracted and entertained with all my birthday presents.

LOL. My mom did the same thing! One of the girls in my Girl Scout Troup caught it when I was about 7 so my mom sent me to her house to hang out with her. She wanted me to get Chicken Pox when I was young since the illness affects you more the older you get. Unfortunately, I didn't catch it from her. When I was 9, I remember sitting in my 3rd grade classroom when the Secretary came over the class PA and asked that I come to the front office because my mom was taking me home. I was so confused until I got into my mom's car and saw my little sister with red spots all over her face. My mom looked at me and said, "I'm taking you home so that you and your sister can play in the same room together for the next few hours. Make sure to hug each other a lot." My mother...lol...God love her. Needless to say, I got Chicken Pox a few days later.

I think you're supposed to get your Tetanus Booster every 10 years as an adult. I had to get one after breaking my elbow during a Rollerblading accident back in the Summer of 2000 since I was all scraped up from an impact with a metal fence. (yeah...ow!) In the Summer of 2002, I was walking around my apartment when I stepped on the wrong end of a sewing needle that my roommate had dropped on the ground and neglected to pick up. I had to go to the ER (the needle would NOT come out...the doctor had to make an incision in my foot and put in some stitches...good fun) and I remember the doctors asking me when my last Booster had been. They told me that if it had been more than 5 years, they would need to give me one. I think it's every 10 years that you should be vaccinated but if you are injured by way of a rusty nail, needle, etc. then they'll give you a booster if you haven't been vaccinated in 5+ years.