Just read a story that triggered a recollection of Chicken Pox Parties.
They happen all over the country, and I know military spouses have been among the participants. I remember having a dropped jaw when I first learned about them. It started out as putting an infected child in close proximity to other children in order for them to ‘catch’ the pox. This was timed for school holiday or vacations, or just because.
With the advent of the internet, it became the lollipop game. A person would let their infected child allegedly lick a sucker and then mail it to a parent so their child could eat the ‘infected’ candy.
The story that just broke is that a Find A Pox Party In Your Area Facebook Page was reported. It was a place where people were offering these “pox pops” for money in your area of choice.
Thinking about it? According to the US Postal Service:
Mailing infectious substances and/or materials is illegal unless it meets very specialized requirements between authorized parties—and chicken pox parties don’t qualify.
Does one really know if its an infected pop? Is it going to work? What other germs come along with that lolli of biohazard? I get ill just thinking about people doing this to their kids. There’s a vaccine for chicken pox. None of my children have caught it due to being vaccinated. One can wait until it happens naturally, if ever.
I doubt there are any rules against having a pox party on base but I would urge individuals to make an informed decision about participating in one. Shipping an infected lollipop from an installation may just double your trouble.
About Seasoned Air Force Spouse
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Don't get me started. I will say one word and leave it at that: IMMUNIZATIONS.
That's just disgusting. Who knows what else they end up sharing? Yuck! And as stated before me, vaccination works wonders!
Since all schools and DoD childcare facilities REQUIRE that your child have the Chicken Pox vaccine, this would just be stupid for military families to even participate in. I don't agree with the Chicken Pox vaccine, since in most cases Chicken Pox is not fatal and a child will then develop immunity after having it. But I've never understood trying to make your kid sick.
For the people who are 'pro' doing this, the main reason is some sort of timing in their lives. I don't get it but then I don't get many of the parenting choices that make the news. :-)
There are shots for that now. The child does not have to actually have the chicken pox in order to be immune.
I think if you're dumb enough to order a USED lollipop through the mail, then you probably deserve whatever you get. This is natural selection for the 21st century. Back in the caveman days, the caveman who forgot to feed their child lost their child, and that clan died out. And I'm only half joking.
Oh dear. I now regret that I am no longer ignorant of this phenomenon.
Oh gag. If you decide to share some pathogens with friends by having your kids play together when sick that is one thing. But mailing around used lollypops? Indescribably nasty. While your kid may or may not get chicken pox from them there are plenty of other diseases out there too that are less benign. Remember moms, herpes is the gift that keeps on giving.
Un…frickin'….believable. Idiocy. Sheer idiocy. It's as though people are de-evolving.
The vaccine does not last forever and the pox is much more dangerous in an adult. Just FYI. :)
The chicken pox suckers do not work. Chicken pox virus is air borne and not contracted through saliva.
The only vaccine we chose not to give our children was the chicken pox vaccine. Our choice was strictly personal, and both our boys have contracted it the natural way. Now, they don't need the shots, which my Pediatrician could not guarantee would keep them from getting them. I don't believe that you should encourage your children to share candy to make them sick, but I think that one week of full blown chicken pox, for a lifetime of not getting it is worth it.