How long do I keep them away??

[bjrose]

DD2 will be having her 4 year old needles & DS his 18 month needles on Wednesday.
My 2 closest friends here don't immunise & I'd like to know how long I should keep the kids away from them?

DS is having chicken pox only, but I think thats a live virus one isn't it? Is that how it works? I am thinking that its the live virus ones I should avoid them being around each other, or all of them...?

I'm not sure what DD2's needles are. MMR tetanus & whooping cough I'm assuming?

Can anyone shed some light?

[Kmn]

The chickenpox one is live, and from memory they need to stay away from vulnerable people from 1 week after to 2 weeks after the shot. They should tell you when you have the needles though - just say you have a friend who is on chemo....

[bjrose]

We were only thinking 2 days. Glad I asked
Thanks

[Kmn]

Here it is (from Qld Health):
"There may be some swelling, redness and soreness where the injection was given and fever. A mild chickenpox-like rash may develop at the injection site or on the body. If this occurs, the rash usually appears about eight days after vaccination (but can appear any time between five to 26 days). People with this rash should avoid contact with people with weakened immune systems. More serious side effects are extremely rare."

So unless they have the rash they are OK.

[tenar]

It depends whether your friends' kids are healthy or not. If they have a compromised immune system then maybe you shouldn't take your kids to see them for the time specified above.

But if they are healthy kids, then they can't catch the disease from the vaccination.
If it was dangerous to have a vaccinated kid near an unvaccinated kid then we would all know it, because younger siblings would be at risk every time their old siblings were vaccinated - clearly this isn't the case.

The live virus vaccines are an attenuated virus, not the "real thing". It provokes an immune response from our bodies that will (probably) protect us from the disease, but a healthy person can't catch the disease from the vaccine.

[bjrose]

Ok then. So we should be fine unless there's a rash. What about MMR & pregnant women?
I have 2 close friends pregnant, one who doesn't immunise, so not sure of her vax history. She was recently around a baby with measles, but only long enough to see the rash...
Should be fine if she's vaxed herself, huh?

Sorry guys, I just want to double check everything...

[LimeSlice]

You may well find that if there is a possibility of catching Chicken Pox from the vaccine (for the other kids catching it when your DD is JUST vaxed) that they would want you to bring the kids around.

The notion of (generally) not vaxing is that the immune system develops naturally through exposure to virus...so the old fashioned Chicken Pox Party is a great notion

If you are really concerned just check with your GP or health nurse when they get the shots done.

If she has been avxed against measles herself, then being around someone with measles shouldnt be an issue - although there is always a possibility of catching it, in spite of vaccination.