N1cky

I thought only for all vaccinations, I didn't think you could pick and choose which ones.

Sally Redux

I think vaccinating against chicken pox is just going too far, and to my surprise the school nurse said, "It's not an effective one anyway; I'll say you have an objection and you won't get hassled any more."

Lucybell33

Interesting! We were most put out that we couldn't even elect to have the vaccination here - it's not a pleasant childhood illness, and we'd have preferred not to have our children go through it. However, since they've both now had it, the issue is now academic! I have heard that it is preferable for them to have the actual illness, as they're more likely to have proper immunity against shingles in later life, something I don't believe the vaccine provides.

Rete

But doesn't having gotten the Chicken Pox vaccine mean that you won't get shingles?

Since her little ones have already had the pox, it is moot.

Sally Redux

I think it's the other way around.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...-epidemic.aspx

sir_eccles

Mercola is an anti-vax nut job.

Here are the CDC pages on chicken pox and shingles.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/varicella/

http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/overview.html

Shingles is caused by the latent chicken pox virus left in the body after getting chicken pox as a child. There is a small chance that you can also get shingles from the vaccine but it's a lower chance than the wild virus.

Sally Redux

I don't see the need to vaccinate for chicken pox.

But my point was that there does seem to be some leeway within the system.

N1cky

I don't think this is the thread to debate this. Maybe open a new one if you want to?

Lucybell33

Thank you! I didn't like to say it myself!!

N1cky

Stick around here long enough, and you'll notice that most threads go totally off topic within the first 15 replies.

It's kind of nice to have the debate side of things, but not on threads that are trying to help newbies.

Lucybell33

Lol - yes, I've noticed that! But, thanks again for your plea - especially as this particular issue is a moot point for me!!

Jerseygirl

I have moved the off topic posts relating to autism to a new thread in The Trailer Park.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=814997

kins

I just told the children's paediatrician that they'd had chickenpox and she put it in their notes and wrote a letter for each child 'To whom it may concern.' I've used it a few times for things like ore-school, camps etc.

Zez

If you search some of the other recent threads I've posted a bit. In short we moved to Foster city with a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old 9 weeks ago. What follows is a brain dump.

Schooling....v different, and there is no doubt they will be behind on maths if I don't do something. But literacy teaching is going well and the constant grading is helping my son be less slap dash!! I'm a teaching assistant in the UK and volunteering here 4 days a week to keep my hand in. It's honestly not been as bad as I thought.

Medical....we needed to get Hep B to get the kids into school. We also got UK doctors to write a note saying they had had varicella on the basis or pox photos. The school accepted this.

House prices..,.urg! Need I say more!!

Credit rating. ...our tips were that we went to VW directly for a car, no deposit required for Tmobile with hubby's visa type, AT&T waived deposit because we signed up to autopay, as did pacific gas and electric. Voila, minimal deposits paid and beginning to establish credit. It wasn't as bad as I feared.


Car insurance- we found Geico helpful and reasonably priced.

What to take- we took everything bar electronics (except for the nespresso , my guitar amp and sewing machine) which we run on a monster of a transformer

Shopping....trader Joes! Not as junk filled as Safeway, nor as expensive as whole foods. Costco also to keep costs down

Housework....you'll love the washing machine and tumble driers! A week's washing in 2 loads!

Hope some of this helps!
Missing home...if you haven't already, make sure everyone has an apple device for FaceTime. Also, on Tmobile for $10 extra a month I get free calls to UK landlines and free texts to UK mobiles. Has made keeping in touch really easy and I don't miss them as much as I thought.

Friends- it's actually been v easy to make friends. We've been here 9 weeks and I'm honestly not short of friends.

Lucybell33

That sounds much easier than I'd expected, thanks!