Immunisation for Windpocken (Chicken Pox)

My two little ones have Windpocken at the moment. As it is the season for this horrible itchy disease I thought I would just let everyone know (as I VERY recently discovered at the doctors) that the Krankenkassen are now recommending and funding chicken pox immunizations for the following age groups. Babies between 11 and 14 months and children between 11 and 17 years who haven't already had the illness. This immunization has been in use in USA for nearly 10 years.

Are they immunizing these days against Whoopingcough? My kids got it when they were younger because Whooping cough was not vaccinated against. Couldn't believe it at the time and faced a real dilema about what to do. The Dr. advised that the vaccine used in Germany at that time wasn't safe. I thought Whooping cough had died out in the dark ages but not apparently in Germany. It isn't something you would want to have your kids catch.

Two of my kids had the chickenpox vaccination and one of them still got it. I read an article that although it is very uncomfortable and an extremely small number of people die from the complications of the illness, it is actually better for the immune system to have it as it apparently can prevent some types of heart disease in later life.
Still feel sorry for you though, Do they have calamine lotion still?? or failing that oatmeal baths soothe the scratchiness.

On the subject of immunisations, are these done at similar ages to the ones given in the UK?

Yes

The bacteria and viruses that cause these diseases never die out, it's just they aren't seen so much because we vaccinate our kids. That's why there has been a big increase in measles, mumps and rubella lately due to the MMR scare and lots of parents didn't get their kids jabbed.

The treatment for chicken pox spots is something very similar to calamine lotion in an orange bottle with a green lid. It is called Anesthaesulf and you don't need a prescription. The other recommended treatment is a bath every day with some Tannosynt (also available without prescription). I have used both on my two and the spots are clearing up really well. They haven't had any new spots for a few days but I have been told to keep them at home until the end of the week and then they need to get a doctors note to say they are fit to return to Kindergarten.

I had chicken pox when I was 13 and it was much worse, I was off school for three weeks. I also gave it to my sister who was pregnant at the time. I think the immunization is probably worth it for older kids. I put 'chicken pox' into google a few days ago and saw some really horrible pictures of severe cases which made me very grateful my kids are on the mend. Apparently if you do get it despite the immunization it will be milder. This was what happened when my daughter got whooping cough after being immunized.