The Health Department is investigating an outbreak of varicella (chickenpox) in the Orthodox Jewish community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
To date, there have been 75 reports of persons with varicella who became ill during or after March 2016. The median age of patients is 3 years (range 0 to 10 years); 72% were not vaccinated against varicella, and 14% had not yet received the recommended number of doses.
Varicella is an illness characterized by a generalized, pruritic rash. It progresses from macules to papules to vesicular lesions and then crusts over. Lesions are usually most concentrated on the trunk.
Persons who were previously vaccinated may develop varicella, but symptoms of infection are often mild; fewer lesions may develop, lesions may not be vesicular, and fever may be absent. It is important to maintain a high index of suspicion for varicella in patients presenting with a compatible illness, regardless of vaccination history. Infants, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised persons are at risk for more severe disease and complications. Complications include pneumonia, bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissues, meningitis, encephalitis, birth defects, and death.
Transmission and Infection Control
Varicella is highly contagious. People with varicella are contagious beginning 2 days before rash onset until all lesions have crusted and no new lesions have appeared for a 24 hour period. People who are not immune to varicella are at risk for getting sick from 10 to 21 days after exposure, and they may be contagious as early as 8 days after exposure. In healthcare settings, providers should institute contact, droplet and airborne precautions. All healthcare workers should have evidence of immunity to varicella (see below).
The Health Department has advised that children should be up to date with varicella-containing vaccine.
Two doses of the vaccine are up to 98% effective at preventing chickenpox. Varicella vaccine should be given to children at 12 months of age with a second dose at 4 years of age. Two doses of vaccine are recommended for older children and adults who do not have evidence of varicella immunity.
Adults who do not know if they had varicella and who do not have their immunization records should either be vaccinated or can have varicella IgG titers checked to confirm whether they are immune. Vaccination histories of children can be obtained through the Citywide Immunization Registry at www.nyc.gov/health/cir or by calling 347-396-2400.
Dr Barotosy – not a regular doc. He a strong emphasis on alternative/natural medicine Dr Classen – Disproven results : Classen proposes that vaccines cause diabetes by causing the release of interferons, causing an autoimmune state leading to immune-mediated type 1 diabetes,[5] and he is quoted on many anti-vaccine websites, such as that of the National Vaccine Information Center.[6] His work has been criticized by some, such as Amy Wallace, who wrote that the vaccine-diabetes link “…relies on the flawed work of one doctor [Classen], who gathered data on a slew of vaccines and failed to follow standard study protocols.… Read more »
One of the doctors is actually pro vax, the rest are people who blemishes their careers by defending other stupid ideas like Aids denial , germ theory denial etc. many of them died already so their quotes are very old and have been debunked so far.. Dr Baylock – Fraud = skepdic.com/blaylock.html Dr Humpries – Fraud = medium.com/@visualvaccines/why-dr-suzanne-humphries-an-anti-vaccine-activist-is-lying-to-you-about-measles-ce446d0a7e0f#.x0651b2g2 Dr. Tenpenny – Please do me a favor… Dr. Palevsky – Fraud (he think Germs is a scam..) – leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2011/11/30/another-example-of-a-leading-scientist-on-the-supposed-vaccine-safety-side/ Dr Kalokernos – ” He was a supporter of Linus Pauling’s controversial theory that many diseases result from overproduction of free radicals… Read more »
that it is true if a child [and I repeat child not a pregnant woman] gets chicken pox it works much better then a vaccine
My son was vaccinated against chicken pox. Had chicken pox at a year old. Had shingles when he was 3. The Dr had to double check that he had shingles at such a young age as he had never come across a case in a such a young child. I would still recommend vaccinating!
Vaccines are unsafe. The medical world needs to prove that they are safe! So far, they haven’t done that.
He gave chemo treatments to healthy patients. He lied to them and they trusted him. He was sentenced to 45 years in jail in 2015. So enough with the talk about putting complete and total trust in the “experts”. Start asking questions, start questioning your doctors. ASK them what exactly is in every vaccine they inject your child with. CARING PARENTS SHOULD WANT TO BE INFORMED, NOT THE OPPOSITE.
I could not understand why besides all the pro-vaxxers’ ugly jeering attempts at anyone politely questioning the safety of immunization, they also repeatedly talk alot about people being liars and frighteningly claim that everyone is lying… You at #38 have been so helpful to explain and tell us how you lied so terribly all the time even to your own husband, and as you stated, even at the expense of your Doctor’s dignity and of your pediatrician of 30 years, while you just hung around with your silly ideas, refusing to use your brains, doing nothing, no studying and on… Read more »
By reading the comments here I really identify with everything that the normal (pro vax) people are saying. Since I was once anti-vax I will never harshly criticize someone who still holds that opinion because I know how hard is to change that. I confess that I had a feeling that everything we consume should be natural with no modifications. From this (completely irrational, totally personal) feeling I started driving my actions, and my research, the websites I used to read and people I used to talk to re-enforce what I felt it was true. I even lied sometimes to… Read more »
I find comment 34 intelligently & honestly expressed, but as unintelligent as your comment may be, nothing beats your impressive list, but it could have been so much longer… As 34 explained – from early on doctors are warned not to openly oppose conventional medical opinion. Here’s just a partial list of reputable conventional doctors who were silenced after opposing vaccines: Dr. Russell Balylock – board certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, lecturer and author. He practiced medicine for 25 years before pursuing his nutritional studies and research full time. Dr. Suzanne Humphries – a conventionally educated medical doctor who was a… Read more »
by the way of comparison with the (small) list of the doctors who bet their careers on the safety of vaccines, here’s a list of great luminaries of the anti vax movement. Read and compare. Sherri Tenpenny, no relevant educational background or expertise (e.g on infections disease or immunology), has published no research on any related topic, germ theory denialist but she is a member of the prestigious National Speakers Associatio. Runs a website that sells natural products that cures cancer and other miracles. Use obfuscated pseudo scientific language to impress the public. Claims that vaccines kills children. Mike Adams,… Read more »
What you saying is blatantly a lie (either the doctors did not said that or you did not consult with regular doctors). To prove that I challenge you to disclose who the doctors were so we all can check for ourselves. You also have no understanding on what the Rebbe said about polio. Also, now there’s plenty of evidence that vaccines dont cause any harm in 99.9% of the cases. The outliers don’t justify not to vaccinate and you could mamesh rash v’ shalom die of a horrible death if you don’t vax your kids from polio or measles for… Read more »
I consulted 5 different conventional doctors/pediatricians regarding my concerns about vaccines. 3 out of the 5 actually expressed that they are obligated under medical license to advise immunization but that there are definite concerns and risks. One was honest and humble enough to tell me that he would not be surprised if future research and findings regarding the risks of immunization would advise against vaccinating and IF released to doctors and the general public, vaccinations would be discouraged. A friend of this doctor once related that he was genuinely concerned and saddened that a practitioner who most of all should… Read more »
What do you think of the WHO’s (World health organization) recommendations for breastfeeding? Conspiracy theory? Oh, or maybe they’re just a bunch of antifeminists?
Dear conventional’s, go to the library.
The studies proving the dangers of vaccination are as “anecdotal” as the ones of the so called “experienced doctors”. Get your facts straight and do research before criticizing those who do. You know how real research is done? Through studying and listening to both sides on the issue. Interesting that all anti vaxxers I know are willing and not afraid to hear the conventional experts and unconventional alike, when searching for a healthier lifestyle for their families.
and is allergic to some component in a vaccine and can’t get the shot, then he will only be protected if other kids vaxx. In other words, it is the strongest reason in the world to be pro vax. no anti. The Rebbe always trusted doctors. He would call the most prominent doctors and professors and will conclude that vaccines are safe and necessary, because that’s the consensus. He would not, however, call your hippie herbalist neighbor that studied for 3 month certificate, consult on the natural mommies group on facebook, or that friend that instead of learning spent all… Read more »
…and like watching the screen instead – please watch “First do no harm” based on a true story.
Might those 3 aggressive comments be coming from the same person? Regarding health in general and of course my child’s wellbeing, we obviously have much more trust in the gentle, wise, well-thought-out approach that is out there… Would I ever allow a raging vaccine pusher to advise me when it comes to something as sacred as the gift of life and children? The Rebbe showed us so many times how positive thinking and avoidance of all negativity, affects health more than anything else. Today, the conventional doctors too – if they are honest, admit that health is most affected by… Read more »
I always made sure that my children were vaccinated. One of them had terrible reactions after a routine vaccine and when I consulted the doctor who vaccinated he advised not to continue vaccinating the child at all. I asked “but how will my child be protected?” and with a friendly smile the doctor answered in these words: “Don’t worry, he really will be fine and healthy without vaccinations” Not understanding – I asked “why were we always advised to vaccinate our children?” It was frightening to see his expression change and he became totally angry, defensive, and offensive to the… Read more »
Just know that there are a LOT of like-minded people out there. We support you all the way.
We care just as much about our children as any other parent.
And for everyone else, realize that every anti vax parent of a vaccine – injured child was once pro vaccines.
Why would anyone want to subject their kids to a preventable disease? What, because of what maharishi avoda zarapathic says?
Please check your spelling. It’s vaccinated, not vaccined. And please educate yourself about vaccinations before spewing your ignorance to the public. Wishing you a speedy recovery from the ‘lifelong’ effects you suffer from by getting ‘vaccined’.
My son got chicken pox many years before the vaccine was recommended. He was hospitalized for four weeks in critical condition. Although my other children had mild cases that lasted a few days, this child had a different reaction. Don’t play with fire!
All the other idiots, don’t be so afraid of the diseases that you are willing to inject yourselves with poisons that are way worse!
for a sound medical explanation of the rationale behind the components of a vaccine, please see this website
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/toxic-myths-about-vaccines/
it is so embarrassing to read a comment like #18 above.
people are mamesh ignorant about basic facts of the world and still brag about it…it is amazing that someone living in our community cannot figure out by herself the time honored pharmacological principle that “the dose makes the poison” .
this is so embarrassing.
From the Mayo Clinic: What are the risks associated with chickenpox and pregnancy? Answers from Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. If you are pregnant and have chickenpox (varicella) — a highly contagious viral illness that causes an itchy, blister-like rash — you and your baby might face serious health risks. If you develop chickenpox during pregnancy, you are at risk of complications such as pneumonia. For your baby, the risks depend on the timing. If chickenpox develops during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy — particularly between weeks eight and 20 — the baby faces a slight risk of a rare… Read more »
Is there a need to make it illegal to sue for something that is safe? Should it be egal for a dr to get kick back for something that is illegal to prove harmed/murdered your child? Is there a point for giving something harmful as prevention when it has been proven the only individuals sick durring an outbreak are the ones that were given the prevention? Is chicken pox specifically such a horrid disease that your parents didn’t send all the kids to pick it up so they would catch the disease? Did you ever get strep twice?
take the chemicals inside the vaccine and go feed it to your kids who hardly have an immune system, due to their young age, and intake of unhealthy food.
all the chemicals inside the vaccine can cause worse illness than what it is preventing.
i myself have caught lifelong illness due to being vaccined as a kid.
I have nothing else to say except ‘thank you’ for posting. I do believe most poeple still stand behind this way Bh!! And I LOVE the idea of those who don’t vaccinate, go live in the jungle!!
Don’t let this spread like an epidemic! It’s completely and totally unfair to everyone who is exposed! I am an adult, not immune and was told it’s dangerous to be in contact with someone who has chicken pox, especially now that I am pregnant. But, I am a teacher and I teach your dear kinderlach and I am aware that many of them have not been given the vaccine/ this puts me in a very dofficult and uncomfortable situation… Think about others and the wellness of the community, please…
” Shingles (herpes zoster) is no fun. It usually begins with a couple of days of pain, then a painful rash breaks out and lasts a couple of weeks. The rash consists of blisters that eventually break open, crust over, and consolidate into an ugly plaque. It is localized to one side of the body and to a stripe of skin corresponding to the dermatomal distribution of a sensory nerve. Very rarely a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. More commonly, patients develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the area where the rash… Read more »
So many of my generation – (1950’s – 1960’s) caught chicken pox as children and we are B”H in our 50’s and 60’s today. It was an extremely common childhood illness and although uncomfortable, treatment was simple with oatmeal baths and calamine lotion. It is medically known and clear today as was then that it is not a dangerous disease. The RARE cases where chicken pox may lead to more than just itchiness, is if a child has a weakened immune system, is taking certain specified medications, or was born prematurely. For adults too – stress and a poor or… Read more »
If you’re anti vax I don’t care about your ideas or response it is all wrong sorry. I will just include you in my davening for you to recover. But while you dont recover, please go live a natural life in the jungle with monkeys and birds. For the people who are undecided, please don’t take any of the messages here seriously. Not even mine. I urge you to instead of listening to your local herbalist to PLEASE go talk to a prominent DOCTOR (with a regular medical degree) that is friends with your family and have years of study… Read more »
I smell plagiarism.
BTW, even if you had the chicken pox vaccine, you can still get shingles later in life (that’s why you need the shingles vaccine later…).
Not often, but much more often than any adverse reaction to the vaccine.
In a lecture to medical students, Dr Kathleen DiCaprio, a microbiologist and PhD who worked for the NYC DOHMH on many vaccines including a potential Ebola vaccine, stated the risk for Shingles still exists despite being vaccinated. This is because the vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine and will also lie dormant in the Dorsal Root giving it potential to revert to its active form at any time. In addition, the incidence of Shingles is just 0.4%. Meaning that out of every 1000 people at risk for Shingles, only 4 will actually contract it. Of those 4, the incidence of Post-herpatic… Read more »
Interesting, if very worrying.
We are an Am chacham v’navon – a wise nation.
Don’t let people lie to you.
Ignore “experts” that think they know everything from random websites and TV celebrities (r”l), the facts are incredibly clear:
– SCIENCE makes it clear that vaccinating works and saves lives!
– The Torah instructs to listen to doctors – not lactation consultants and herbalists, but doctors – who make it clear that vaccinating works and saves lives!
– The Rebbe said to vaccinate, since it is clear that vaccinating works and saves lives!
@Mottel
This is probably the most well written and informative comment I have ever read on Collive! Thank you for posting.
I’m with you.
You’re going to get a lot of backlash but there are like-minded people out here!
Someone with shingles can infect a person with chicken pox, so it’s a vicious cycle
fact: getting chicken pox gives you HUGE chance of shingles in the future
get your kids immunized
I know a lady who got chicken pox while pregnant and aborted. Go tell her that is not the end of the world. One of the consequences of contracting chickenpox, a virus called Varicella zoster, is that the it is not destroyed by the body’s immune system. Once the symptoms of chickenpox disappear, the virus hides itself (it does not do this consciously, it’s a freaking virus) in the dorsal root ganglion, a bundle of nerve fibers at the bottom of the spinal column, unseen by the immune system. Even though the body generated an immune response to the original… Read more »
To #1, did you read the article?
“Complications include pneumonia, bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissues, meningitis, encephalitis, birth defects, and death.” That’s better than getting the vaccine?
We’re not the Amish or 7th Day Adventists: we don’t refuse medicines or blood transfusions.
It’s exactly your attitude that causes these outbreaks, endangering the lives of those who can’t or haven’t yet vaccinated.
its better then a vaccine when kids get chicken pox at a young age