Live Chickenpox Vaccination

[Intimeslikethese]

Yikes! My granddaughter just received a live chickenpox vaccination. She lives with me. I have never had chickenpox, although all three of my children had it years ago with one following the other during a summer break from school. I cared for all but never caught it. With Scleroderma and early 60's, what should I do?

[fairy56]

Hi, make an appt with your doctor explain to him about your granddaughter and that you"ve not had chickenpox.

[LucyJean]

Hi there, I want to say I am not an expert and I think it is best to have a discussion with your Rheumatology nurse or consultant, if you have one, who know exactly what medications you are on and what your health is normally like, or your GP...however, my understanding is that you cannot catch chicken pox from someone else having a vaccine.

You, yourself cannot have a live vaccine if you are having immunosuppressant treatment as it is likely that your immune system would not be able to fight off the weakened version of the virus that the vaccine contains. However, it is often recommended that the people who live with people who are immunosuppressed are given vaccines to prevent them getting the condition and therefore giving it to the person who is vulnerable. They have not given your granddaughter chicken pox, they have given her a very weak version of the virus and she should produce antibodies to this and thus not get chicken pox. She shouldn't develop it, and you shouldn't either. It is only if she had chicken pox that you would need to be worrying, and you would need to talk immediately to your Rheumatology team and possibly temporarily come off your medications.

I hope that makes sense. As always if in doubt, speak to your specialists. I am including the link to information about the chicken pox vaccine below.

Lxxx

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

[Intimeslikethese in reply to LucyJean]

Thanks, Lucyjean. I've spoken to the nurse. Proceed with caution. Your response is relieving. I will try to avoid her kisses, tears and sneezes for the next few days. It's so strange that I've been exposed to my daughters years ago and never caught it. I will read the vaccination link. Thanks for the direction.

[LucyJean in reply to Intimeslikethese]

Hi there, it might be that your immune system was reactive to the condition and built immunity against it when you were exposed to your first child, and this would have built with the other two. Often people with autoimmune conditions find that they don't ordinarily catch the same things as other people because their immune systems are super sensitive...and too responsive...unfortunately that includes against ourselves!!! It is only when you are treated with immunosuppressant to stop this over -reactivity that you become vulnerable to everything that is going around.

I would suspect you are pretty safe unless you are on really heavy immunosuppression. As you say, avoid bodily fluids and extremely close contact to make absolutely sure.

Lxxx