Interesting you ask these questions. I was actually discussing the vaccine with a doctor the last time I took my daughter in. She had chicken pox when she was young and has a small scar on her face. The vaccine wasn't out yet when she had it. He said that years ago getting chickenpox made you immune . Having it and then getting re-exposed to it throughout her life would maintain immunity (not 100% but close). However, the problem is that it is re-exposure that provides immunity overtime. With fewer people getting chicken pox (due to the vaccine) the chances of re-exposure overtime are less and it is the re-exposure that provides the immunity over our lifetime. If you go many years without any exposure then it is possible that everyone may need a booster down the road or risk getting it when they are exposed to it traveling to locations where chicken pox vaccine is not standard or from those travelling here. There haven't been any studies done yet though that I know of. The risk of shingles later on is much less with the vaccine so I'm in favor of it. He said that since the vaccine has only been available since 95, no one knows for sure how long it will provide protection (unlike getting it as a child which we know provides almost a lifetime of protection) and he recommended against it which surprised me.


>I thought these would be relatively easy to find the answers to, but haven't found them yet.
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>Is chickenpox vaccination routine or required?
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>If you are vaccinated, can you still get chickenpox?
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>If you are not vaccinated, what are the odds you can get chickenpox?
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>Not looking for someone to do more Googling for me, just wondered if anyone knew these already.