Rep. Eric SwalwellVerified account

Incidentally, this is why child vaccination laws should *not*, as KY's do, make an exception for children who already had the disease. It may be medically redundant to vaccinate them. But letting them not do so creates a loophole for antivax parents: deliberately infect them.

Back in the day my parents did the same as the vaccines were not available then, but every vaccination available we had them. When polio sugar cubes and shots were handed out we were right there at the front of the line. Smallpox,Eliminated. Make Anti vaxxers read about smallpox!

I had a childhood friend die from complications of chickenpox. I would NEVER intentionally expose my child to the disease - and when he did get it - I was paranoid about complications. When you are 10 and your best friend dies - it sticks with you.

And yet, when I was a child in the 60s, that is exactly what parents did. One kid in the neighbor gets chicken pox, everybody brings their kids over to get them infected. Times change. Back then there was no immunization for it. But you can bet we got all the shots available.

I’m wondering 30 years down the road if his kids will vaccinate against shingles?

My thoughts exactly. At least they will be old enough to make their own decisions!

Btw, even if by exposure contracting chicken pox renders one's system immune, chicken pox is a member of the herpes virus which can lay systemically dormant for years -- even decades -- & can re-emerge later in life as shingles.