The Chickenpox Vaccine: Is It Necessary?

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mostly occurs in children but can affect adults who have never experienced it as a child.

Image via WikipediaChickenpox is one of the oldest recorded childhood conditions. It can begin with a fever but it always ends up with contagious red bumpy rashes that spread from head to toe. Everyone knows that look.

For about a week, your child is covered in blister-like bumps that are red, itchy and painful. It can be a parent’s worst nightmare, especially if they have more than one child.

About ten or so years ago, doctors introduced a new vaccine for chickenpox – the varicella vaccine. Parents have had conflicting views of this development and are puzzled by what to do about it. Should they give it to their kids or allow nature to take its course?

Both Sides of the Argument

For hundreds or thousands of years, children have lived through chickenpox. When the body encounters childhood diseases like chickenpox or mumps and measles, it builds up immunity. Antibodies are produced as a result of the body fighting the invading antigen. A high level of these antibodies in the body (titer) can ward off future incidents of the condition from occurring.

In the past, if one child was exposed to the virus, parents would expose all of their children. This was done for two reasons. One, it almost guaranteed that the healthy child would contract the disease in childhood. Secondly, if all of the children had it at the same time then only one week of work was lost.

Nowadays, there are vaccines available that had not been invented all those years ago. Children can avoid the pain of many conditions with a vaccination. Parents are opting for this method to keep their children healthier than previous generations.

Here’s the rub, though. Because the vaccine is new, there is a lack of data as to its efficacy. No one is sure how long the immunity will last.

Image via WikipediaThe problem here is shingles. It is an adult form of chickenpox that is quite painful. It can also cause serious problems in those who have never had chickenpox before or in people who have had it but not maintained a high enough titer over the years.

Children not exposed to chickenpox as children have a greater incidence of contracting shingles as adults. For non-immune adults, the varicella vaccine can help lower their risk of catching chickenpox, especially in geriatric people where it can be life threatening.

So, is the vaccine necessary? Many healthcare facilities require it for employees. Parents have a choice when it comes to their children. For them the question is which is better: natural immunity through exposure or vaccination? The jury is still out on this one. However, as you probably know if you've been reading this blog, I am of the opinion that the natural way is almost always best. Our bodies really do know what they're doing - if we let them do it.

Some Info About Vaccines:
   

Immunizations - Reactions and Responses

In today's world, many see immunizations as just a part of life. They made the difference between life and death for so many children in the world. But, reactions during the process are not uncommon. This makes sense, as a vaccination artificially stimulates an immune response in the body. And we see more vaccinations becoming available all the time - many of which may not be as "proven safe" as you might think....

Image via WikipediaImmunizations are typically given to protect the health of a child. Starting at birth, kids are vaccinated against certain common illnesses that at one time caused fatalities. In many cases, a dead inactivated form of the virus in question is given to the child so that the body can create antibodies to it.

There are no cures for viruses. We just have to treat the symptoms. Vaccinations can reduce the incidence of these diseases ever occurring in the first place, but are they really all they're cracked up to be?

Side Effects Of Immunizations

Whenever you take your child to get an immunization, they make you aware of the risks and potential reactions your child might have. Most are mild and related to the process.

* Headaches – Your child may develop a headache from certain vaccinations. For a baby this may be characterized by high-pitched crying.

* Injection site reaction – There can also be a localized reaction on the skin at the point of injection. This can include swelling, redness, rash and pain. A soothing bath or cool compress may stop the swelling.

* Fever – A child may also experience fever from one or more of their vaccinations. A cool bath can make them feel better when they are hot. Cool compresses on their forehead may help break the fever as well. In general it is best to let a fever run its course, as long as it's not too high, as this is the body's natural way of fighting off infection.

* Diarrhea – If this occurs, try giving your child more fluids. Babies that breastfeed often will feed more after reactions to immunizations. If they are not breastfed and can’t keep down formula, try Pedialyte to replenish fluid levels in the body. Sometimes, plain water in the bottle can work to introduce more fluids back into the body. Let your doctor know if your baby starts to get dehydrated.

If there is a reaction to the immunization it will occur usually within one to three days after the injection. In babies, fussy crying that can’t be soothed is a sign. Call your doctor and let them know what is going on.

Image via WikipediaImmediate serious side effects to vaccinations are not all that common, but some may have possible negative effects, long-term.  Our bodies are designed to fight off infection, so the best method of keeping your child healthy is to build up his or her immune system naturally. Unfortunately this can mean some sleepless nights while they are fighting off illnesses from time to time. But it may be worth it, to build a strong immune system that will serve your child for life, the natural way.

I'm not saying all vaccinations are bad, but certainly the mainstream media view that they are all good, is NOT the case.

And in case you weren't aware, there has been a growing trend of late of lawmakers granting immunity to vaccine manufacturers. What does this mean? It means that the makers of vaccines are immune to lawsuits caused by their products! This sounds pretty scary to me.... If there's no consequence if a vaccine proves dangerous, what incentive does the manufacturer have to run long-term (and expensive) studies to be sure a vaccine is safe?  (See December 2011 issue of Alternatives, by Dr. David Williams.)

Yes, vaccines can save lives (and have, for many years), but just be aware of the potential side effects and possible long-term health problems that may result - while some vaccines have been around for many years and are well tested, many of the newer ones have not. I simply urge you to use discretion and don't jump on the bandwagon for every vaccine that comes along. (And see below for some educational resources on this topic.)

Vaccination Resources: