Information wanted about the 18month chicken pox (Varicella) immunisation

Hey guys,

First time poster in here so please go easy on me... I'm going to state from the outset my beliefs about immunisations and why i'm asking the questions. I am a firm believer in vaccination, and yes, I've done research and have a science (genetics) background. I'm not asking for people to try and change my beliefs about immunisations as a whole. My 3 year old is fully immunised and my DD has up to and including 12month. She is around 20 month and hasn't had her chicken pox immunisation yet.

My DD currently suffers from severe failure to thrive.. she is on a special ultra high calorie feeding program to boost her weight, which has stopped working and we are having a conference between here gastroenterologist, dietitian and paediatrician about putting in a nasal gastric tube next week. We have done almost every test under the sun, and in a month we are booked in for a gastroscope to take biopsies to try and get an answer. We are currently starting a milk exclusion diet to also rule out a possible diary intolerance/allergy, and we are due to have a sweat test to test for pancreatic function and possible cystic fibrosis. Although she has been heaps better in the past 10 + weeks (her hair has finally started to grow etc), in that she used to pick up every cold going around (which affects her eating), but in the past 6 weeks her weight gain was dismal (11g in total and it should have been 1500g), and we have started seeing the return of nappy rash in which her skin breaks down and bleeds and weeps. It might have been coincidence, but I'm worried we are returning to the bad days where she looked slightly African baby and looked sick and gaunt.

I've been to scared to immunise her, as i don't want to overload her immune system. I'm tempering that with the possibility she can pick up chicken pox and then it might be a lot worse for her without any prior resistance. She doesn't go to childcare (I'm too scared to put her in in case she gets sick), we rarely go out and play at the park (:redface: bad mummy i know!) or other playdates. But she could pick up chicken pox from our many many visits to MCHN, GP, Paediatrician, pathology places, and the children's hospital.

So my questions are about the actual immunisation. I will have her immunised, the question is now or wait, and there are pro and cons to both sides. I know that the chickenpox vaccine contains modified live virus at a reduced strength and a small amount of the antibiotic, neomycin. Can anyone tell me (prefer for all statements to be backed up with sources, either internet based or text based, as i still have access to a university library where i can look these things up).

How is the virus modified? When they say reduced strength, how much is it reduced? What is the incidence of children getting a full reaction to this reduced strength virus? Are the consequences as severe as those who get the natural version at full strength? Which is easier for a strained immune system to fight?

Thanks so much, as I'm sure you will all appreciate this is a very difficult situation we are coping with, and not as easy decision to weigh up.

oh goodness, i have no idea. probably stating the obvious which isnt much help, but a GP could probably answer your questions. well, a good one anyway.

Yael, i am sorry to hear little N is not doing so well.

I am typing this from "The Vaccine Book" Dr Bob Sears.

" How is the Varicella vaccine made? The virus was taken from an infected individual decades ago and placed in the culture of lung cells from human embryos. The virus used the lung cells to mutilply. The viruses were then removed and placed in a culture od guinea pig embryo cells for further growth. Finally, they were put in a culture of human diploid cells (a high-tech engineered group of laboratory cells) ......... to multiply even more. These viruses were then taken to Merk's laboratories.
Merck keeps the virus replicating in a different human diploid cell culture nourished with serum from cow fetus (the liquid part of the cow fetus's blood) and removes batches of virus to go into the vaccine. The viruses are put into a solution of saline, electrolytes, MSG and gelatin. The virus is whole and living when injected, so it can potentially cause chicken pox."

Paraphrasing a bit now....

Ingredients in the final solution;

The live virus
Sucrose
Saline solution
Gelatin
MSG
Potassium (an electrolyte)
Residual components of the Merck human diploid cells
EDTA
Neomycin
Trace quantities of the cow fetus serum.

Standard side effects occur at about an average rate compared with other vaccines.

There is a little more info in the book. But i think that is the main info you are after?

Hope you have some answers soon. :hug:

ETA- It also says taking vitamin A and C before and after this shot is thought to be beneficial, just as it is for most shots.

Hi Yael,

have you spoken with anyone from the RCH, they have a dept for immunistaions, and actually do them on site, but when I was researching MMR they spoke to me at length on the phone and were able to provide a lot of information and resources.
It may be worth a phone call.

Yael, I'm so sorry I can't help you, but I couldn't go without saying how sorry I am to hear that N is struggling ATM. I'm sure you must be too :hug:. I hope they can resolve something at the conference next week, and work out what can help her. I hope it's not CF, or an allergy, but if it is, then there are so many things that you can do to help and improve the situation for her.

Good luck Yael, with the CP vacc. decision too. I will be thinking of you :hug: