I can’t actually believe that anyone would allow their kid to lick, chew, ingest something called the Chicken Pox lollipop in lieu of getting a shot.
It’s being hailed by some as a more “natural immunity.” I really hope this is just a scam and nobody’s getting taken in by this.
ABC News is reporting:
Authorities and doctors are warning parents who want to avoid chicken pox vaccines for their children that a new mail-order scheme to share lollipops licked by children infected with the disease as a way to create immunity in their kids is not only unsafe but illegal.
“Can you imagine getting a package in the mail from this complete stranger that you know from Facebook because you joined a group, and say here, drink this purported spit from some other kid?” U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jerry Martin told The Associated Press.
There are even Facebook groups such as “Find a Pox Party in Your Area” offering ways for people to connect and share the virus through infected items, according to news reports.
What?!
Now, this could be popping up online as a way to get people to do this but it’s possible that my faith in humanity will be restored when I learn upon later reports that everyone simply said “ick” or some derivative of “ick” and clicked away from it. But on the other hand I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of “Pox parties” being all the rage. I wouldn’t doubt they’ll be one in my neighborhood. I’ve got some pretty weird neighbors.
November 7, 2011 at 6:34 pm
I can tell you, quite sincerely, that this happens. I've know of Catholic homeschooling families that have had 'pox parties' to pass around the chicken pox efficiently. You have a child, in tears, having to sit and hug on her sick friend.
These parents are, in most other respects, intelligent, balanced people. It's utterly insane.
November 7, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Chicken Pox used to be considered a normal childhood disease. If you caught it early the case was usually mild, and rarely had complications. Afterwards you had a natural immunity. The Chicken Pox vaccine was developed primarily as a convenience to parents so they would not have to take off the time to care for their sick children. Given that the vaccine was developed using aborted fetal tissue, there was no way I was going to partake in this immunization, so we went ahead and allowed our kids to get exposed when our friends had it.
November 7, 2011 at 6:47 pm
There are plenty of reasons that some parents are not comfortable with the chicken pox vaccine. One is simply that there are health risks involved with the vaccine, another is that it is one of the vaccines that used aborted fetal tissue in its development. Since young children are more likely to get through the disease without complication than teens and adults, it makes sense to make sure that they are exposed during those years if you do not choose to vaccinate. With less natural outbreaks, this means you may have to go to a little extra effort. I attended a chicken pox party with my son, and the kids had a blast. The infected child was well enough to appreciate visitors, and the other kids were given either a whistle or lollipop that the infected child had licked. It was quite effective, as most of the guests did get the pox later. Sharing clothing that the sick child has worn works, too, if the small exchange of saliva grosses you out. I would not expose my child to some stranger's germs sent in the mail, but a local party with friends is more common and less crazy than you might think.
November 7, 2011 at 6:53 pm
My mom ran a daycare group and one of the kids got chicken pox. She notified all the parents and recommended that they just all get it at once (it was summertime, so she had them most of the day). That's when I got it. I don't think it involved sharing spit or hugging sick friends, it's contagious enough without that (or kids share spit naturally enough…)
Within a known group it seems like the logical way of insuring your kids get immunity. Especially since the vaccine is created unethically and it's a relatively mild disease in most cases. As long as you are careful about who you expose, it makes sense to have it done in a batch all at once instead of the kids getting sick one at a time during the school year.
November 7, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Catholics, keep in mind that there are certain vaccines which we cannot morally take. This includes the Chicken Pox Vaccine. For more information, see Children of God for Life website: http://cogforlife.org/
November 7, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Anonymous, the blanket statement that "certain vaccines we cannot morally take" is false. The church condemns the vaccine, points out the importance of being vaccinated and leaves the sorting out of this problem to the discretion of the parents.
Personally I'm glad that polio is still made ethically. I'd never take a chicken pox vaccine though, although it would cause some soul searching if I was in the same house as an immune-compromised individual.
November 7, 2011 at 7:44 pm
This is ridiculous! I just heard about this for the first time today. You mean to tell me that there is NO ethically produced Chicken Pox vaccine out there, and therefore if my kid gets vaccinated it somehow it helping perpetuate abortion? Baloney.
The anti-vaccine cult has been growing like a virus, but this is a step too far.
What next? Share your herpes?
November 7, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Anon @2:44
1) no there is no ethically produced Chicken Pox.
2) perpetuate abortion? maybe – someone is certainly making money off of dead babies.
3) Herpes can never be cured and is thus quite a bit different.
November 7, 2011 at 7:55 pm
There is also another concern with the vaccine. They have no idea how long it will give people immunity. When it first came out it was a one shot immunization. Now you have to get another as a teen. The CDC has no idea if that group of kids will need to get boosters every ten years. Chicken pox is mostly annoying in children…it can be deadly in adults. What are we doing?
This is one instance where 'going natural' is the better option.
Debbie
November 7, 2011 at 8:29 pm
@ Christina:
you have some sort of evidence or proof that there is no ethically produced Ck px vax?
I know Herpes is different – I was being facetious. But, really, what next?
The vax is there to protect us – we don't need to "go natural". So what if you need another booster? Big deal.
November 7, 2011 at 8:45 pm
We accidentally had a pox party…On the upside, several children accidentally exposed had mild cases and were immunized early without a serum.
November 7, 2011 at 8:58 pm
CDC Document on Chicken Pox Vaccine (top of page 307 – MRC-5 DNA) http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/varicella.pdf
What is MRC-5 DNA – http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/techniques/fluorescence/gallery/cells/mrc5/mrc5cells.html
November 7, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Adult chicken pox can render a male sterile. Additionally, the scarring is severe — A cousin of mine has gotten both because of a case he had when he was just 20 years old.
I would have loved it if my 15 year old son would have gotten pox, unfortunately too many kids that he's grown up with have been vaccinated against it so he was never exposed…it's too late now.
November 7, 2011 at 9:45 pm
we don't vaccinate. we have exposed all of our 6 children to the chicken pox and only 4 have gotten it. GASP! they are still alive. i hate to tell you, but if you looked at the ingredients in the varicella vaccine, you might reconsider not taking the more natural approach. did you know that the varicella vaccine contains the LIVE chicken pox virus and there is a good chance you will contract the chicken pox from the vaccine. the well paid by big pharm govt will tell you that it is a more mild illness and so it is fine. what a load! give me the chicken pox without formaldehyde. i like my children un~embalmed thank you. before thinking we are nuts, you might do some research and see WHY we might avoid this and other vaccines. peace http://www.kansansforvaccinerights.com/
November 7, 2011 at 10:03 pm
sorry. i have tried to calm down a little and will try to be a little less sarcastic this time. i respect the rights of parents to DO THE RESEARCH and decide to vaccinate. JUST like i hope that you would respect my right as a mother to DO THE RESEARCH and choose not to vaccinate.there is not need for either side of the issue to be judgmental and nasty. I resent the scenario given above by matthew as if we are some abusive parents shoving our children, in tears no less, on to other sick children. my niece and nephew both had the pox last winter and i took the 2 little ones who have not had it yet over for a tea party. they shared cups and gave each other hugs and kisses before they left. there were no tears and a good time was had by all. they didn't contract the chicken pox so they may be immune like me.
which brings up another point made here. do you know who the largest unvaccinated and potentially contagious group of Americans are? adults. unless you are getting a booster for chicken pox, measles,etc or you have a natural immunity, you are at risk for getting and spreading those diseases. so all adults that were given the varicella vaccine as a child, unless they have kept current on the booster shots, they can still contract chicken pox so you can still get shingles. (which you can also get from the vaccine…)
point is this. it is my right to make INFORMED medical decisions for my family. you obviously have a right to your opinions but i would hope that instead of just spouting off, you might know what you are talking about first. peace
November 7, 2011 at 10:14 pm
What I really find annoying about Catholic blog sites such as this one, is that, when I am wrong about something, I really can't just tell someone off and then be done with it. I feel compelled to own up to my mistake. (Not that I should be doing that anywhere!)
In this case, it seems that you have informed me about something I didn't really know about. I have more research to do and am not fully convinced here that the lollipops and hugs thing is the best bet. (I still would rather my kids get a vax than an illness. And I have breathed in more formaldehyde in 2 minutes in a smoke-filled French cafe than I would get in many vaccines… (or breathing in a scented candle or, etc. etc., etc. but… ) But at least I guess that I have to begrudgingly agree that there may be some merit to your approach.
On the other hand, I get pretty angry at some of the BUNK that IS out there in anti-vax community. This may just not be it.
But we should ALL be careful and do our research. Far too much "big pharma" this and that being applied with a broad brush and too much hysteria without data.
Thanks.
Oh and I'm rubber and you're glue and all that peace right back atcha!
November 7, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Pass the Mumps fudge. Make mine extra Mump-sy.
November 7, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I have tons of friends who don't vaccinate for different reasons. None of us would give our children these ridiculous chicken pox lollipops from a stranger.
The most important part of this issue is that vaccinating is a parent's choice and should never be mandated or forced by the government.
November 7, 2011 at 11:43 pm
It's illegal to attempt to send illnesses via mail (for damn good reason), and I certainly hope anyone doing so is punished, and pray that no one was adversely affected by their foolishness.
November 8, 2011 at 1:51 am
I understand not wanting to use vaccines from cell lines that originated with tissue from an aborted child because we don't want to encourage future use of such vaccines, or pretend that what happened to that child was no big deal.
However, one thing that must be understood is that the "cell line" in question comes from ONE aborted child who had rubella and who was aborted in the early 1960s — almost 50 YEARS AGO. What happened was that tissue was taken from this baby, used to cultivate new cells and then those cells were transferred to new petri dishes, etc. and so on. The cell line in question DOES NOT involve continuous or repeat use of aborted fetal tissue, and NO vaccine currently being used does.
Again, while I can understand wanting to avoid using this cell line if possible, I do NOT understand how a parent who agrees to use this vaccine — particularly if no alternative is readily available — can be sinfully complicit in an abortion that happened long before THEY (let alone their children) were even born!
Elaine
Elaine