Chicken Pox Exposure

[Prahran]

I’m on 3.1 mg of Prednisolone for PMR.

My son has just asked us to babysit our 18 month old granddaughter, who was vaccinated against Chicken Pox ( live vaccine) 4 days ago

I’m not sure if I should babysit or not. Is there any risk involved in being close to a newly vaccinated baby and if so how long should one keep their distance. Both my husband and I have had chicken pox as children.

[MrsNails]

It’s a tough one really - our Babies in the U.K. don’t get vaccinated for CP (except in exceptional circumstances)

You could wear a mask & gloves when dealing with nappies incase it’s excreated by urine as Polio Vaccine is.

I’ve written up on my experience with a Baby with Chicken Pox as we’d had him the day before (when he was most contagious) & l was on 12.5mg Pred & 25mg Methotrexate. I had antibody tests to be on the safe side - check out FAQ’s there should be information in there.

MrsN

[Prahran in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks for the information.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Jusding by this

healthline.com/health/vacci...

and this

verywellhealth.com/live-vac...

it shouldn't pose a problem. The risk with live vaccines to immunocompromised persons is if they are given them directly rather than as a result of shedding by a baby and it is considered the CP vaccine isn't shed unless the baby develops a vesicular rash which is very unusual.

As MrsNails suggests, maybe use a mask and gloves if you are changing a nappy just in case

[Prahran in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the info and links.