Hello Moms,
I have multiple posting but I have failed to ask the questions in any of my postings. Plans have changed for my family and I and we will be taking a trip to California in the middle of March. This will be my daughters (16 months) first flight. One of my many questions is, should I go ahead and have her chicken pox and MMR vaccine given before we leave? She is scheduled to get her chicken pox vaccine at 18 months and her MMR at 24 months (I believe). We will also be taking a cruise in August. If we do not have her MMR by then should I go ahead and get it before the cruise? Sorry for the confusng 2 part 2 vaccine/ travel question.
All ideas and thoughts are welcomed.
Thanks
S.
Thanks to all the moms who responded. We had a successful first flight to California in March and did not worry about getting the shots. She is scheduled to get her chicken pox shot next month which is the schedule that the doctor and I had discussed. In addition, I will speak to the peditrician about the MMR vaccine and if any additional risk would be involved with the cruise. I will keep everyone posted.
Thanks again Moms
S.
Talk to your ped, but I wouldn't think there's any reason to give her the shots early. Discuss this with him or her and see what they say.
talk to your doctor about your concerns they can help point you in the right direction
We've been on 2 cruises. The first one our daughter was almost 9 months old. The second one she was 2 3/4 and our son was 6 months old. NEITHER one had ANY shots for either cruise. One was to the Bahamas and the other to Mexcio.
I would not get the chicken pox vaccine before the trip to Calif. There is some reasoning behind why they give the shots at the specified times; and I doubt your daughter will be exposed to CP any more on vacation than at home. [Besides, I'd rather my kids get chicken pox and then have lifelong immunity than to get the vaccine, which may not.] Ditto the MMR shot, but there may be some reason why being on a cruise ship (or your destination) may make it a better idea. Either way, you should talk to your doctor as to why the shots are recommended, and why the schedule is as it is, and what the benefits or risks are of getting the shot early, or of going on vacation w/o having had them.
Chicken Pox (Varicella) and the MMR are typically given at 1 year. Is there any specific reason her vaccinations are delayed? If not, I would get them done ASAP and check to make sure all her other vaccinations are current for her age and the doses have been given with the proper time spacing between doses. As a daycare provider, I've discovered that many pediatricians are not good at keeping their patients on the proper schedule and most parents just go with whatever the doctor tells them, with good reason. Each state varies a little as to age/dose requirements for childcare and school, but here's the link to the American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization site so you can see what they recommend in general http://www.aap.org/immunization/IZSchedule.html.
Good luck with your trip!
chicken pox shot is not needed. so no chicken pox.
MMR...i wouldn't give it before 3 years old.
No, I would not want to get the shots early. You are only going to CA, not some foreign country. I don't think it would warrant doing anything special.
Depending on where you are going on your cruise you should talk with your doctor to get her advice.
Hi S.,
I wouldn't do anything just before you leave town. If there is any adverse affects, you'd want to be home and comfortable with your own physician. Even if it's just being crabby.....
Is there a reason you are vaccinating her for Chicken Pox? Chicken Pox and the vaccine both stay dormant in the spinal column, an important part of the body to stay healthy. Documentation shows that the vaccine only lasts 10 years as well. I'd much rather take my chances on her catching it and having a lifelong immunity to it than just expose her with the vaccine and it only postpone the inevitable or another vaccine. I have friends that had their kids vaccinated and their children still got the chicken pox. (We had an outbreak at a family church retreat this past summer so I feel like an expert :) Chicken Pox is only life threatening to an in utero child.
Just my thoughts! Have fun on your trip!
M.
