Friday, March 6, 2009

Pox! Yo, Mama

My children have the chickenpox. All three of them. This would be of little consequence, and in fact we had planned on it for our youngest, but the eldest two were vaccinated against the disease. “What!!!???,” you exclaim. Yes, this is true. And one of my vaccinated kids has it the worst.

I called the pediatrician’s office this morning to report in to the nurse and was informed that they are seeing more of this these days and are now giving boosters. At four years old. My two vaccinated kids are 10 and 8 and no one ever mentioned boosters to us.

Having the chickenpox is no problem and I’m actually relieved that now none of my children will ever get it again. I just wonder how many other parents like me who took it on good faith that their children would never get the chickenpox will find themselves with sick children. Or how many adults will realize only after breaking out in spots (and exposing everyone they've come in contact with for 2 days) that their immunity to a childhood disease was good only while the disease would have done little harm.

So if you have vaccinated your children (or was vaccinated yourself) check with your doctor about booster shots. Or do as we inadvertently did and lay the questions to rest by catching it.