jfkmk wrote:
JohnnyG73 wrote:
Did your parents intentionally expose you to chicken pox when you were a child not only to make you immune but because it's much safer than contracting it as an adult?
That's pretty sick and is probably considered child abuse.
http://seattlemamadoc.seattlechildrens.org/chickenpox-parties/
http://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/1513/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-chicken-pox-party-vs-immunization
A vaccine has only been available in the US since 1995. Prior to that children were often exposed intentionally because it's much more dangerous to contract as an adult. The above links are examples of how common it is for parents to expose their children to chickenpox so they become immune. Child abuse...hardly. It was VERY common practice while I was growing up in the 70s and early 80s. Parents used to run ads in news papers for "chickenpox parties" during the summer months so parents that wished their kids to be exposed could do it when school was not in session and prevent their child from getting it during school and missing many days of school.
