Documented proof of chicken pox?

countrysunshine · #1 11/15/12, 12:40 AM

Local news story says over 200 student excluded from school because they don't have the chicken pox vaccine or "or documentation they’ve previously had chickenpox."

Lack of vaccinations sends 71 students home » News » News From Terre Haute, Indiana

My question is, where do you get documentation? When my kids had the chicken pox we didn't go to the doctor. That would spread them. I did end up calling about one because his kept breaking out again. They called in a prescription but never saw him.

My niece caught the chicken pox from me (shingles) when she was a year old and had had a vaccine. So, the doctor opted NOT to give her the boosters. She ended up having to get them this year. Makes NO sense at all.

I am definitely NOT anti-vaccine. I just don't understand this one at all.

foxtrapper · #2 11/15/12, 05:10 AM

To answer that question, you'd have to contact the Vigo county health department.

countrysunshine · #3 11/15/12, 05:22 AM

As I understand, it is a state directive. It has no bearing upon me because my children are adults, we aren't faculty and I don't live in Vigo county.

Just makes me scratch my head as to how you are supposed to get "documented proof" when no doctor wants to see anyone with CP.

I feel badly for the kids that get them and still have to get the vaccine. Or, get the vaccine and still get the CP. That seems to be a common scenario, too.

ann in tn · #4 11/15/12, 05:35 AM

To get documented proof you have to go to the doctors office and have blood drawn for a titer. I have had to do the same to go to college.

Grandmotherbear · #5 11/15/12, 06:16 AM

When you mentioned chilren getting CP after getting the vaccine, I shoul mention that DD, in pre vaccine days, had chicken pox twice. It does happen. A mild case at 3 and a virulent case at 17.

Our Little Farm · #6 11/15/12, 06:20 AM

Surely anyone that has had chicken pox has at least one scar? I know I do!

Barn Yarns · #7 11/15/12, 06:31 AM

i dont think I have any scars. SO just had shingles a while back, no scars there either. I called my dr's office for my youngest and said... 'he had the chickenpox about 19XX' they wrote it down and sent it to school.

Old John · #8 11/15/12, 08:12 AM

When we had Chicken Pox in our Family, in about 1949 or '50, I was in 4th grade. They would not allow us to go to school, as long as anyone in the house had an active case of the C-Pox. So all three of us, myself and my two younger siblings, a brother and a sister, had to stay out of school for six weeks. They sent books home to us, so we could keep up with our classes. But the books had to be destroyed afterward.
I think there was no C-Pox vaccine back then.
Things have changed a lot in 60 years, hunnh.

ETA......I forgot to add, I got a Shingles vaccination, last week.

mistletoad · #9 11/15/12, 10:08 AM

I didn't take my children to the doctor when they had chicken pox. Years later when registering them for school I told the doctor the date they contracted chicken pox and he documented it on their shot records.

mommathea · #10 11/15/12, 10:25 AM

You can go to the dr, and have your blood drawn. If you've had chicken pox, or the vaccine the antibodies will show up in your blood. Simple as that.
Although. What they did is illegal. At least here in Missouri. A child does not have to be vaccinated, or have documentation of any illness to attend school. I'd be lawyering up VERY quickly if I were one of those parents. It shows very scary times ahead when you can be forced to medicate your child or it won't receive it's right of education.

I know they were kept from attending school because a quarantine but I don't understand the logic behind it. It's not like they are posing a threat to those who are vaccinated are they? Makes you scratch your head.

Callieslamb · #11 11/15/12, 10:55 AM

Just because you have the CP doesn't mean you can't get them again, especially if you had a mild case of them. I'd go for the vaccine - it's easier than getting over shingles. It's easy to document that you've had the vaccine.

mommathea · #12 11/15/12, 11:09 AM

The shingles vaccine only has a 60% success rate, some say lower, and it's long term effectancy is totally unknown.
Just like the chicken pox vaccine - at first you only needed one shot, then two. A few days ago another study came out saying that a 3rd would soon be needed.

It's easy to get a titter level done at the drs office, to know what your immunity is

oregon woodsmok · #13 11/15/12, 12:32 PM

They weren't sent home because they had chicken pox, they were sent home because they were not vaccinated. If your child had chicken pox, you tell his doctor and it gets noted in his file. It's not an issue.

All schools who require vaccinations give a religious exemption to those who belong to religions who don't vaccinate. I guess the rest of you get to home school.

mommathea · #14 11/15/12, 12:42 PM

No one said they were quarantined because they had chicken pox. A standard procedure in Missouri, there is a form that the health department has parents of non-vaxed children sign before the beginning of the school year, stating that if there is an epidemic, then those who are not vaccinated for the disease will be sent home and will be quarantined for a set period of time.

fellini123 · #15 11/15/12, 01:51 PM

I got CP when I was a junior in HS. What a pain!!! But I didnt realize I had it for several days, I'm sure when I was most likely to pass it on!! LOL I had to stay home from school as long as the sores were still open.
I have many scars on my arms from the CP, but other than the itching I didnt feel bad or anything. It was like a 2 week holiday with calimine lotion!! LOL

Alice in Virginia

countrysunshine · #16 11/15/12, 01:53 PM

Never thought of a blood test. Just wasn't on my radar. Thanks for explaining.

The changes are overwhelming to me. When my oldest son went to PU in 2002 I filled out his medical records - including shots - as "the record keeper". When youngest went to USI in 2009 they told me I had to have medical records to verify the tetanus shot he had had in 2004. That is not even contagious! I finally gave up and told him to go to the health center and have another.

I couldn't help but wonder about people that can't take various vaccines for HEALTH reasons. My sister is allergic to tetanus. I have a cousin that had two older brother die slow, painful deaths before age six (same dad, diff mom) that couldn't be explained. She has never had a vaccine because they(medical experts) THINK something in them caused it. Does that mean she is not eligible to attend school in Indiana?

Though I believe in vaccines I am concerned about the over reaching of the government here. Not to be callous, but we cannot legislate away all dangers of life.

Stepping down from my soap box.

Maura · #17 11/15/12, 02:41 PM

You are contagious long before you show spots or get a fever. I think ten days. This is why it spreads through schools so quickly. I have two scars on my face from CP. One of my friends has large pox marks on his face, like he had small pox. In this country, however, the doctor will give you a topical antibiotic if your bumps are infected.

If you can't be vaccinated for some reason a doctor's note to that effect would be enough to get you in school.

mommathea · #18 11/15/12, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrysunshine

Never thought of a blood test. Just wasn't on my radar. Thanks for explaining.

The changes are overwhelming to me. When my oldest son went to PU in 2002 I filled out his medical records - including shots - as "the record keeper". When youngest went to USI in 2009 they told me I had to have medical records to verify the tetanus shot he had had in 2004. That is not even contagious! I finally gave up and told him to go to the health center and have another.

I couldn't help but wonder about people that can't take various vaccines for HEALTH reasons. My sister is allergic to tetanus. I have a cousin that had two older brother die slow, painful deaths before age six (same dad, diff mom) that couldn't be explained. She has never had a vaccine because they(medical experts) THINK something in them caused it. Does that mean she is not eligible to attend school in Indiana?

Though I believe in vaccines I am concerned about the over reaching of the government here. Not to be callous, but we cannot legislate away all dangers of life.

Stepping down from my soap box.

For a state university you'd have the option of a medical waver signed by a dr., or a religious waver signed by the legal guardians. Very simple.

Sonshine · #19 11/15/12, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Surely anyone that has had chicken pox has at least one scar? I know I do!

That's what I thought. I also carry scars from it, as do my 4 siblings.

mommathea · #20 11/15/12, 02:53 PM

Everyone always talks about the scars that chicken pox leaves.

I have 2, hubby has 2, my sister who had a horrible case of the chicken pox ended up with only 1 scar, and she was almost hospitalized because they were in her throat and had a hard time eating and drinking and was getting dehydrated, though that could have been avoided if she wasn't sucking her finger at the time.

But I have more scars from falling off my bike as a child, I have more scars from learning to cook, I have more scars from doing stupid stuff trying to keep up with my brothers.