In the United Kingdom, some parents decided to adopt a dangerous approach to protect their children from chickenpox.
In France, unlike measles vaccine, the chickenpox vaccine is not compulsory, because the vast majority of young are naturally immunized during childhood. Relief for many parents who refuse to give a vaccine to their child. But by going against health recommendations, these families sometimes make them incur a risk. Also, for some time now, a very controversial practice has grown, especially in the United Kingdom where adults seek to “protect” their child from chickenpox by all means.
The goal: to allow the youngest to catch the virus naturally, especially since the disease is generally more benign in children than adulthood. How ? Organize gatherings where the little ones are voluntarily exposed to the virus. This method, which recalls the “measles celebrations” already observed in the United States, arouses a strong reaction in the medical environment. The principle is simple: when a child contracts chickenpox, his parents invite other children to play with him so that they are infected in turn. And that goes further: some parents do not hesitate to post classified ads or to sell infected cuddly to other parents …
A practice that worries health authorities. Doctors recall that chickenpox can cause serious complications: skin infections, pneumonia, even encephalitis. Deliberately exposing children to the virus amounts to taking an unnecessary risk, especially for children who are already suffering from a disease or who have a low immune system.
If these “festivals” remain marginal, they reflect an increasing distrust of vaccination. A situation which is reminiscent of the “Measles Parties” in the United States, where some parents voluntarily exposed their children to measles, a disease however much more dangerous than chickenpox. Faced with this trend, British health authorities recall that vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to avoid complications.
