Hello!

24 Comments

A new party craze has hit Brisbane.


 

Dettol_Liquid_Hand_Wash_main_image_625x430

Are your family’s hands as clean as they could be? Read the DETTOL Liquid Hand Wash reviews here


Brisbane Anti-vaccination supporters are holding none other than “chickenpox parties”.

The mother of two boys aged three and five, Hollie Singleton, advertised via a Facebook anti-vaccination group the opportunity to infect other children with the disease.

“My son has a full case of chickenpox. We are all home together for the week,” she wrote.

“If anyone wants to clear this bug now and get it over with please come to Brisbane and visit us. We are here to infect only those who want it!”

cp

Image via Getty

Ms Singleton told The Sunday Mail  – “I had a number of people who were interested if the timing was different,” she said.

She said it was “the way things were done in the past” and she had no concerns that chickenpox can be fatal.

Ms Singleton said she had seen “a couple” of other advertisements online for “chickenpox parties”.

“I just don’t believe in a chickenpox vaccine, it seems really silly to put that in children when natural immunity comes from getting it and it’s a safer smarter thing to do,” she said.

“I chose to allow the virus to come when my kids were susceptible, and the body did a great job of responding and healing. This may not be true of others, and it may be that their immune systems are not as strong. Care must be taken in prevention and in recovery. And safety by quarantine, strict hygiene practices, and communication to help others be responsible will help reduce infection and spread regardless of illness or vaccine shedding.”

While these “parties” were fairly common before a vaccine was developed, Australian Medical Association warn it’s “dangerous” and “terribly misinformed” with the severity of the disease being underestimated by parents.

“I’ve said repeatedly vaccination saves lives, it reduces infection and it protects us all, not just the individual,” AMA Queensland president Dr Chris Zappala said.

Would you attend? Share your thoughts below.

Image via getty

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Totally irresponsible. I remember getting chickenpox before the vaccination became available. I got it first. Initially it looked like heat rash which appeared on Christmas Day. My brother caught it, then my Mum who had had it previously but a very mild case. It made her very ill, so much so that she had no option not to say in bed. Mum realised afterwards that I probably caught in the last week at school. Also we had been playing with one of my cousins on Christmas Day. Fortunately she didn’t catch it. Shingles can be very debilitating for several months as the rash isn’t the only problem. Associated nerve pain can last for months. Also you can get it around your eye. Swelling can cause your eyelids to close and it can effect your eyesight too. I know a guy who had to be taken to hospital and admitted for that reason. They had to make sure the insides of his eyelids hadn’t become inflamed and damaged his eye as well. He was on strong IV antibiotics for a few days. You can have medication to relieve some of the side-effects if diagnosed within 24 hours but you can still have complications such the eye one I have mentioned. Measles can have lasting side-effects too. They can also effect your eyesight. I don’t know about now, but there didn’t used to be a cure for Tetanus. That is why it is so important to keep vaccinations up to date. If you get a nasty cut or similar wound you need to see a Dr. within preferrably 24 hours and get a booster vaccination if you aren’t sure when you had your last one.

    Reply

  • Every mother does what they feel is best for theit child but COME ON… i would say No… i dont want to purposly infect my child with anything thankyou

    Reply

  • I have heard of such things when I was a kid and these happened when I was a kid as there wasn’t a vaccine for it then but seriously people are still doing them!

    Reply

  • This is crazy, i don’t understand why anyone would do this

    Reply

  • What a fool

    Reply

  • Its quite terrifying that a lot of parents don’t have a basic understanding of how vaccines work. Its one thing to do this with chickenpox as the complications are relatively rare, its what the future holds that is truly terrifying. Polio Party anyone?

    Reply

  • It shocks me that we are supposed to live in an educated society but people still don’t understand the importance of vaccines not just for their children but for the broader community.

    Reply

  • i wouldn’t have a party like this. these parties aren’t a new craze though, i saw a simpsons episodes many, many years ago and maggie had the chicken pox lol.

    Reply

  • well at least she is keeping him at home.

    Reply

  • I remembered as a young child sitting in the bathtub trying to sooth my itchy skin and the chicken box was like small bubbles on my skin waiting to be scratched . It felt like a lifetime to go away and was so relieved when it finally went away . What a shame there is no free chicken pox vaccine as I think it would be good to have for the kids .

    Reply

  • I am stunned as there is so much education around childhood vaccination and the results of getting these diseases! Getting any childhood disease is unpleasant and can be severe and some of the repercussions are truly awful!

    Reply

  • The mortality rate for chicken pox is 1 in 60,000, but of course mortality is higher in the very young and old. The vast majority will be fine if they catch chicken pox. However a few people will suffer from quite serious complications, the most common ones are pneumonia and meningitis. f you catch chicken pox when you’re young, you may get shingles later (very painful!)

    So I would say no to chicken pox parties for the following reasons:
    * The few that do need hospitalisation pose an unnecessary drain on the health system, when it could be easily prevented with a cheap vaccine.
    * You really don’t want shingles later in life.

    Reply

  • This is crazy. Vaccines exist for a reason!!


    • They sure do and a little research will show the awful outcomes of some of these diseases.

    Reply

  • Chicken pox is a preventable virus, and it kills some who get infected. Not for me. Love to see the liability if someone infected died as a result of this!!!!

    Reply

  • Mothers did indeed take their healthy young children to visit children who had chickenpox or mumps in the hope that they would become infected while they were both young (not babies) & healthy. They had no choice they had no vaccine against these illnesses. Will you also be attending or hosting a Measles, Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever, Polio or Meningococcal Outbreak party. I am pretty sure the answer is no. I hope it is. Are your little one immunized against these diseases or only the ones you consider Safe. Have they had Tetanus injections or will they that’s a great one. Seriously before you make this choice could you please go to a childrens hospital & watch a small baby whose parents hadn’t had the chance to have their little one immunized as they were too young. Watch them struggle for every breath. Watch the horror & fear on the parents faces & remember that baby caught that disease from someone who wasn’t immunized. Even if they survive & they don’t always even today would you want that for any baby especially your own. You cannot pick & choose. When the vaccines against these diseases became available parents flocked to centres to have their children injected. Many of them had already lost a child to one of these illnesses. My little just turned 5 year old Great Niece died of Meningococcal disease despite early intervention & every possible help given to her. It was after her death that
    her Mum began fighting for that vacine to be available for everyone because at that time not a lot of years ago you only got the shot if you had come in contact with someone infected. Now most children are spared as are most Mums. Remember that it is not just your child nor is it JUST CHICKENPOX or just MEASLES. People still die from the affects of Measles. Please don’t count what mothers who had no choice did many years ago & think it makes it OK. They & I who am 64 think you are crazy. No I am not judging you I understand your fear but I want you to truly understand what you are exposing your & other peoples little ones to before you make that choice. If you have then at least you are making an informed choice. Not the one I would make but please make sure you understand that these simple sounding illnesses kill. Don’t just read or listen please go & see for yourself. Love to you & your little ones hope the scratching & fevers are not too bad. Good luck Michelle.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join