[bluedragon]

I am taking DS to get his 12 month vaccinations tomorrow, he is 18 months so is also due for the 18 months one as well.

My question is about if I should give him the 18month chickenpox vac at the same time as the others. As this, like the MMR, is a live vaccine I either have to do them both together (which with the other 12 months ones means he would have four jabs in one go ) or wait a minimum of 4 weeks before giving the second one. We are going away for Christmas and he will be around 4 primary aged kids and 2 other babies his age or younger. I have no idea what chance there is he will be exposed to chickenpox.

Has anyone done them all together? It seems like such a lot to do in one go.

Obviously I will talk to the tomorrow about it (I am taking him in the RCH clinic) but was just after anyone's experiences.

TIA

[mum201]

I wouldn't. DS had his MMR two weeks ago. 7 days after the vax he got a temp which went for 3 days. On the last day of the temp, he broke out in spots. I am talking, his whole torso, half of his face, half of his legs and arms are covered in welts eg no gap in between the spots. Rush to the GP, who sends us to the ER. It's from the vax. Apparently a few kids get a measles like rash and temp, and very rarely they have the same reaction as DS where they are covered in an itchy rash. Poor little man only slept a few hours for a few nights there.

Anyhow my point is, the MMR one can be a bit nasty, so I would not be adding anything unnecessary to it that could have side effects. Fwiw I do still believe the MMR vaccine is important but just letting you know since it is a live virus, it can be harsh.

[Cranky Kitten]

I wouldn't either - DS didn't have anywhere near as severe a reaction as the PP but he was still a bit under the weather and grumpy for a few days afterwards. 3 is a lot for one go, 4 would be particularly harsh on their little immune systems, not to mention the whole experience of being jabbed.

[Tilly007]

We did and DS was absolutely fine.

[tenar]

I would ask the clinic about it.

There is chickenpox in my local area in inner Melbourne. Vaccine plus vaccine has got to be better than vaccine plus disease, so it's at least worth asking.

[bluedragon]

Thanks for the replies, lots to think about.

[lsolaBella]

My sister had her 35wk premiere vaccinated with both just before he turned 12m. No problems.

Me I delayed my kids getting the MMR after DS1 ended up with a 40+ fever for 4 days and then broke out in rash too. dr said it was reaction to vaccination.

Funnily enough though, DS2 got rubella at around 12m. dr said he would have said MMR reaction but he had not given that vaccination to DS2.

So really you can't win either way.

[Betty_D]

I would ask the clinic about it.

There is chickenpox in my local area in inner Melbourne. Vaccine plus vaccine has got to be better than vaccine plus disease, so it's at least worth asking.

Tenar, can I ask where abouts? I'm tempted to try and get my DS vaccinated for chicken pox a little earlier (he's 17 months) if I know there's an outbreak in my area.

[~Mummy~Mel~]

No way IMO. DS just has his 12 mths. It's 3 needles too many! He suffered from a severe reaction. I think you should space it out.

This post has been edited by ~Mummy~Mel~: 27/12/2012, 06:45 PM