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> (We don't remember how awful chickenpox was because (a) we're generally vaccinated in infancy and (b) it's not a killer on the same level as its big sibling,

> (We don't remember how awful chickenpox was because (a) we're generally vaccinated in infancy and (b) it's not a killer on the same level as its big sibling, Variola, aka smallpox. But the so-called "childhood diseases" like mumps, rubella, and chickenpox used to kill infants by windrows. There's a reason public health bodies remain vigilant and run constant vaccination campaigns against them Don't understand that line - Chickenpox is not vaccinated in the UK, and public health bodies in the UK choose not to do so deliberately because of public health. The reason is that older adults are vulnerable to shingles - which can be more serious - and being exposed to childen with chickenpox on the regular is thought to give them an immunity boost and prevent them from getting shingles or make it less serious when they do. Charles Stross is from the UK so I am quite surprised he doesn't know this.

TranquilMarmot 5y ago
I live in the US and got Chickenpox as a child, I think from a classic "Chickenpox party". I'm not sure if I was also vaccinated against it or not... I got Shingles at 25 (I'm 30 now). I didn't believe it at first because I thought Shingles was an "old person's disease". I remember going to the doctor the day it started, and he just prescribed me some painkillers. I said, "I don't think I'll need those I don't feel too bad." He just looked me in the eyes and said, "Oh, you will." It was awful. Some of the worst pain I've ever been in. I laid in bed for almost a week basically hallucinating. Apparently, Shingles can come up multiple times in your life. I wonder if getting exposed to Chickenpox again would decrease the odds... I don't spend any time around children, so I don't think that's likely to happen to me haha.
- maxerickson 5y ago
  There's a shingles vaccine, though it's only approved for over 50: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/in... Doesn't seem to be much out there about whether that is because of insurance coverage or if that is the population they tested in or if there are additional factors.
  - HarryHirsch 5y ago
    The shingles vaccine is a more concentrated version of the chickenpox vaccine because immune response isn't as efficient in older people. You might consider getting the chickenpox shot, shingles are awful.
  - TranquilMarmot 5y ago
    The experience was awful but since I was young when I got it, I lived through it with basically no aftereffects. I had painkillers but could probably have made it through it without them. If I was 50+ I could see it taking a real toll on my body.
twic 5y ago
Although that theory has been questioned recently, and chickenpox vaccination is being considered: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/the-chickenpox-party-is-over-as-scientists-call-for-uk-vaccine-rollout https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/the-chickenp...
lotsofpulp 5y ago
Does the UK still not vaccinate for chickenpox since the shingles vaccine has been available for years now?
wott 5y ago
> Don't understand that line - Chickenpox is not vaccinated in the UK I am always a bit surprised when I read on this site Americans taking offence that some crazy reckless people do not vaccinate their child against this and this. And I am like "Oh? there's a vaccine against that? Over here it is[1] considered normal to catch it because it is considered mild and just watched and cured in the rare serious cases." > Charles Stross is from the UK so I am quite surprised he doesn't know this Furthermore, it appears that the vaccine is rather recent, thus it cannot be that "we're generally vaccinated in infancy", let alone that he was. Strange. ------------ [1] 'is' or 'was', for over here too, in the name of fighting presumed anti-vaxers, more vaccines have been getting mandatory. It's a strange political mechanic to witness, because imposing rather useless vaccines has been a major factor in creating anti-vaxers, which didn't really exist before that.

TranquilMarmot 5y ago

I live in the US and got Chickenpox as a child, I think from a classic "Chickenpox party". I'm not sure if I was also vaccinated against it or not... I got Shingles at 25 (I'm 30 now). I didn't believe it at first because I thought Shingles was an "old person's disease". I remember going to the doctor the day it started, and he just prescribed me some painkillers. I said, "I don't think I'll need those I don't feel too bad." He just looked me in the eyes and said, "Oh, you will." It was awful. Some of the worst pain I've ever been in. I laid in bed for almost a week basically hallucinating. Apparently, Shingles can come up multiple times in your life. I wonder if getting exposed to Chickenpox again would decrease the odds... I don't spend any time around children, so I don't think that's likely to happen to me haha.

maxerickson 5y ago
There's a shingles vaccine, though it's only approved for over 50: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/in... Doesn't seem to be much out there about whether that is because of insurance coverage or if that is the population they tested in or if there are additional factors.
- HarryHirsch 5y ago
  The shingles vaccine is a more concentrated version of the chickenpox vaccine because immune response isn't as efficient in older people. You might consider getting the chickenpox shot, shingles are awful.
- TranquilMarmot 5y ago
  The experience was awful but since I was young when I got it, I lived through it with basically no aftereffects. I had painkillers but could probably have made it through it without them. If I was 50+ I could see it taking a real toll on my body.

twic 5y ago

Although that theory has been questioned recently, and chickenpox vaccination is being considered: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/the-chickenpox-party-is-over-as-scientists-call-for-uk-vaccine-rollout https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/02/the-chickenp...

lotsofpulp 5y ago

Does the UK still not vaccinate for chickenpox since the shingles vaccine has been available for years now?

wott 5y ago

> Don't understand that line - Chickenpox is not vaccinated in the UK I am always a bit surprised when I read on this site Americans taking offence that some crazy reckless people do not vaccinate their child against this and this. And I am like "Oh? there's a vaccine against that? Over here it is[1] considered normal to catch it because it is considered mild and just watched and cured in the rare serious cases." > Charles Stross is from the UK so I am quite surprised he doesn't know this Furthermore, it appears that the vaccine is rather recent, thus it cannot be that "we're generally vaccinated in infancy", let alone that he was. Strange. ------------ [1] 'is' or 'was', for over here too, in the name of fighting presumed anti-vaxers, more vaccines have been getting mandatory. It's a strange political mechanic to witness, because imposing rather useless vaccines has been a major factor in creating anti-vaxers, which didn't really exist before that.