While it may be a new method, chicken pox parties are nothing new. I remember friends having to go to these when I was young. Not me, though. I got the pox when I was seven.

excellent use of sick tag.

There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Pox. It's a pox on both their houses. It's literally the thing they're trying to get.

While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

Your parents and mine didn't have a chicken pox vaccine. These people do.

ArkAngel: While it may be a new method, chicken pox parties are nothing new. I remember friends having to go to these when I was young. Not me, though. I got the pox when I was seven.

That was before the vaccine was available, however.

A pox on the house of any parent who intentionally infects their child when a vaccine for the disease is readily available.

ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

Except for the fact that now there's a chicken pox vaccination available.

what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Available in the US since 1995. But chickenpox is better fought off as an adult when you get the disease instead of the vaccine as a kid.

what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Since the mid-90s in the U.S.

My son got chicken pox when he was 2-years old. It's difficult to make a child that young understand why they shouldn't scratch themselves.

So, you think this works for syphilis? No reason, just curious.

ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

It's a little different that exposing your kid to infected kids is actually likely to work, versus mailing and hoping the disease survives. Also, if you're going to stick this in your kids mouth, how sure are you the person sending it doesn't also have Herpes, HPV, or any other diease that can survive on saliva/skin. You weren't kissing guys with chickenpox if your mom brought you for a playdate.

itsdan: You weren't kissing guys with chickenpox if your mom brought you for a playdate.

Dude...don't judge me.

I honestly did not know there was a vaccination for chicken pox. Does it work for shingles too?

So terrorists have web sites where they openly discuss and implement plans to spread deadly viruses through the mail?

Anybody in jail for this yet?

what_now: I honestly did not know there was a vaccination for chicken pox. Does it work for shingles too?



Not that one, specifically.

kingoomieiii: Not that one, specifically.

Oh, okay. They're the same thing, but that up there is a beefier dose, and has been approved for use specifically in preventing shingles.

SchlingFocker: ArkAngel: While it may be a new method, chicken pox parties are nothing new. I remember friends having to go to these when I was young. Not me, though. I got the pox when I was seven.

That was before the vaccine was available, however.

A pox on the house of any parent who intentionally infects their child when a vaccine for the disease is readily available.

ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

Except for the fact that now there's a chicken pox vaccination available.

Eh. It'll teach em not to scratch. Kids need to learn discipline. Or be horribly scarred for the lack of it.

So you can be exposed to the virus and not have the symptoms, or you can be exposed to the virus and get the symptoms.

I know which I'd pick.

I heard you can't the shingles vaccine until you're older -- 60s or something. I had the pox when I was 21 and was terribly sick, and I'm worried I'll get shingles some day. Why can't I get the vaccine now?

itsdan: ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

It's a little different that exposing your kid to infected kids is actually likely to work, versus mailing and hoping the disease survives. Also, if you're going to stick this in your kids mouth, how sure are you the person sending it doesn't also have Herpes, HPV, or any other diease that can survive on saliva/skin. You weren't kissing guys with chickenpox if your mom brought you for a playdate.

How many 5 year olds have HPV? I thought you didn't get chicken pox if you were older.

what_now: I honestly did not know there was a vaccination for chicken pox. Does it work for shingles too?

Neither did I actually. Now that I think of it, I should have because I'm pretty sure my little sister got it because she was born in '94. I don't remember her actually getting the disease at any rate.

Tell Me How My Blog Tastes: I thought you didn't get chicken pox if you were older.

You can get them at any age. They're worse the older you get. I had a fever that topped 103 for almost 4 days. I'm probably sterile now.

GAT_00: what_now: I honestly did not know there was a vaccination for chicken pox. Does it work for shingles too?

Neither did I actually. Now that I think of it, I should have because I'm pretty sure my little sister got it because she was born in '94. I don't remember her actually getting the disease at any rate.

Talk to your doctor. You will be absofarkinglutely miserable if you get it now.

Tell Me How My Blog Tastes: How many 5 year olds have HPV? I thought you didn't get chicken pox if you were older.

a lot of people are born with HPV...


also chicken pox is a bad, potentially very bad, thing to have as an adult. There is a disproportionate amount of deaths due to infection for adults as compared to children. The older you are, the worse the potential side effects like shingles and death become. Don't get the pox as an adult.

The good news is the vaccine works just as well for adults as it does for children.

Diogenes: GAT_00: what_now: I honestly did not know there was a vaccination for chicken pox. Does it work for shingles too?

Neither did I actually. Now that I think of it, I should have because I'm pretty sure my little sister got it because she was born in '94. I don't remember her actually getting the disease at any rate.

Talk to your doctor. You will be absofarkinglutely miserable if you get it now.

No, I got it, and I don't remember her getting it.

GAT_00: No, I got it, and I don't remember her getting it.

Oh oh oh. I see.

Wait..so if I had chickenpox back when Jesus was in short pants and Carter was in the White House, can I still get shingles? do I want this vaccination? Am I really taking medical advice from FARK?

itsdan: ignatiusst: While the methods here are a bit bizarre, this isn't any different than what parents have been doing for generations.

It's a little different that exposing your kid to infected kids is actually likely to work, versus mailing and hoping the disease survives. Also, if you're going to stick this in your kids mouth, how sure are you the person sending it doesn't also have Herpes, HPV, or any other diease that can survive on saliva/skin. You weren't kissing guys with chickenpox if your mom brought you for a playdate.

Not only that but sending disease infected anything through the mail is a federal crime.

Tell Me How My Blog Tastes: How many 5 year olds have HPV?

Many are born with it, and more than a few kids have acquired herpes from relatives kissing/touching kids without regard for their condition (just wash your hands periodically even if there's no outbreak for crying outloud).

what_now: Wait..so if I had chickenpox back when Jesus was in short pants and Carter was in the White House, can I still get shingles? do I want this vaccination? Am I really taking medical advice from FARK?

As I said earlier, I'm not sure why they only advocate it when you're older. But yes, you can still get shingles. The virus goes into a dormant state and takes up residence in your nerves. If it reemerges it can be extremely painful.

ArkAngel: what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Available in the US since 1995. But chickenpox is better fought off as an adult when you get the disease instead of the vaccine as a kid.



Do you usually give "good" advice at yahoo answers? You will be absolutely MISERABLE when you get the disease as an adult. Besides that, chickenpox complications are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Your advice is terrible and you should feel bad about yourself.

itsdan: Tell Me How My Blog Tastes: How many 5 year olds have HPV?

Many are born with it, and more than a few kids have acquired herpes from relatives kissing/touching kids without regard for their condition (just wash your hands periodically even if there's no outbreak for crying outloud).

I have read that is actually the most common cause for periodic cold sores on the mouth is being kissed as a baby by someone who had an active herpes infection of the mouth (whether they knew it was active or not, since you can be contagious without knowing or actually having a sore).

what_now: Wait..so if I had chickenpox back when Jesus was in short pants and Carter was in the White House, can I still get shingles? do I want this vaccination? Am I really taking medical advice from FARK?

Chicken pox does not prevent you getting shingles later IIRC.

GAT_00: what_now: Wait..so if I had chickenpox back when Jesus was in short pants and Carter was in the White House, can I still get shingles? do I want this vaccination? Am I really taking medical advice from FARK?

Chicken pox does not prevent you getting shingles later IIRC.

Totally the opposite. You can't get shingles if you've never had chicken pox.

I wonder if the vaccine has the potential to make you get shingles later in life. Anyone know if it's a live vaccine?

lennavan: Yes, that's the argument for why you should get the vaccine and not do the chickenpox party route. The vaccine covers shingles, getting chickenpox does not.

Anyone who has ever had shingles wouldn't think twice about getting their kids the vaccine.

I really cannot adequately describe how much having shingles *hurts*.

ParallelUniverseParking: ArkAngel: what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Available in the US since 1995. But chickenpox is better fought off as an adult when you get the disease instead of the vaccine as a kid.

[i483.photobucket.com image 500x224]

Do you usually give "good" advice at yahoo answers? You will be absolutely MISERABLE when you get the disease as an adult. Besides that, chickenpox complications are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Your advice is terrible and you should feel bad about yourself.

Perhaps I phrased that poorly. When you get the disease as a kid, you have an easier time fighting off the disease or complications than if you got the vaccine instead

I thought shingles came from one's chicken pox infection? So wouldn't a chicken pox vaccine stop the original infection, stopping the shingles?

serpent_sky: lennavan: Yes, that's the argument for why you should get the vaccine and not do the chickenpox party route. The vaccine covers shingles, getting chickenpox does not.

Anyone who has ever had shingles wouldn't think twice about getting their kids the vaccine.

I really cannot adequately describe how much having shingles *hurts*.

An elderly neighbor of mine (this was years ago) got shingles, even on the bottoms of her feet. Poor thing was in agony.

I don't think anyone mentioned it so far, but these people are mailing a live biological weapon. How long before an postal worker is infected?

Weird, why does it smell like Tony La Russa in here.

lennavan: Diogenes: Anyone know if it's a live vaccine?

It is.

So if you're lucky to never have had chicken pox, and you didn't get the vaccine, you can't get shingles.

Does the live vaccine then protect you from the pox, but create the potential to get shingles later anyway since you have the live virus in your system?

ArkAngel: ParallelUniverseParking: ArkAngel: what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Available in the US since 1995. But chickenpox is better fought off as an adult when you get the disease instead of the vaccine as a kid.

[i483.photobucket.com image 500x224]

Do you usually give "good" advice at yahoo answers? You will be absolutely MISERABLE when you get the disease as an adult. Besides that, chickenpox complications are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Your advice is terrible and you should feel bad about yourself.

Perhaps I phrased that poorly. When you get the disease as a kid, you have an easier time fighting off the disease or complications than if you got the vaccine instead

That's better...but still bad advice. The risk of a child suffering side effects from the vaccine is WAY smaller that the risk of complications during a "natural" chicken pox infection. If you get vaccinated you will develop a case of "chicken pox light". That's it. Always better than the real deal.

These guys are insane. Some people have never had chicken pox before (like myself) and exposure to something like that might actually kill me, so sending it through the public mail system should be punished by the full force of the law.

ParallelUniverseParking: ArkAngel: ParallelUniverseParking: ArkAngel: what_now: There's a chicken pox vaccination?

That's new. My mom deliberately infected me with it when I was a kid because she had the time to deal with it and I was in excellent health.

Available in the US since 1995. But chickenpox is better fought off as an adult when you get the disease instead of the vaccine as a kid.

[i483.photobucket.com image 500x224]

Do you usually give "good" advice at yahoo answers? You will be absolutely MISERABLE when you get the disease as an adult. Besides that, chickenpox complications are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Your advice is terrible and you should feel bad about yourself.

Perhaps I phrased that poorly. When you get the disease as a kid, you have an easier time fighting off the disease or complications than if you got the vaccine instead

That's better...but still bad advice. The risk of a child suffering side effects from the vaccine is WAY smaller that the risk of complications during a "natural" chicken pox infection. If you get vaccinated you will develop a case of "chicken pox light". That's it. Always better than the real deal.

I'm not saying side effects. I'm saying the immunity carried over into adulthood is better with getting the disease than getting the vaccine

Diogenes: So you can be exposed to the virus and not have the symptoms, or you can be exposed to the virus and get the symptoms.

I know which I'd pick.

I heard you can't the shingles vaccine until you're older -- 60s or something. I had the pox when I was 21 and was terribly sick, and I'm worried I'll get shingles some day. Why can't I get the vaccine now?

I think getting the chicken pox when I was 16 was the sickest I'd ever been in my life, and that includes a bout of pneumonia. Remember, pox loves mucus membranes. When you're a 16-yo girl, guess what ELSE is a mucus membrane. NOT FUN. Add to it 2 weeks worth of chills, fever, and assorted flu-like symptoms and you get some idea of Hell.

I'm with you--I'm utterly convinced I'll get a devastating case of shingles when I'm older and want to prevent that.

/My brother had it at the same time, when he was 17. He's convinced they made him sterile.