Chicken Pox After Vaccination

It started a few small bumps one day that I brushed off as nothing more than a few bug bites. It is summer after all and we are outside a lot of the time. It sparked worry when the following day the bumps had spread to his legs, arms and torso. But he was vaccinated! He is up-to-date on all of his shots so why did this happen?

At first I didn't think it was possible until I did research and talked to his doctor. Apparently my son isn't alone. About 1 out of 10 people who get the vaccine still get a mild case of the chicken pox in their lifetime. It is usually a very mild case, like Benjamin's, with very few lesions and a very mild to no fever and the illness doesn't last as long. If a child gets the Chicken Pox sometime after vaccination it is known as a "breakthrough" Varicella. Benjamin actually showed no signs of the Chicken Pox in the days prior to the bumps appearing, though I do recall him feeling warmer than usual but I just figured it was because of the warm weather and nothing more. 

Regardless of the severity and whether a child has been vaccinated or not, when Chicken Pox strike, the infected person should stay home until the blisters have formed scabs or when no new spots or bumps are forming anymore. 

Does this mean I regret getting him the vaccine despite the fact he has gotten the Chicken Pox anyways? Not at all. In fact his case is so very mild that it doesn't seem to bother him much. With a baking soda bath every night and cozy cotton clothes, he doesn't complain to much about being itchy. There are no giant blisters at all and he will be just fine. Does this mean I think the Chicken Pox vaccine is for everyone? Nope. Overall, I feel it is a parent's choice whether or not to vaccinate and I have read that it is suggested that it not be used on anyone who has any hypersensitivity to any part of the vaccine itself. 

So be aware, that the vaccination isn't 100% security against the disease BUT if contracted after vaccination, the case is generally much milder than if one had not been vaccinated!