[TomB]

The trained pediatricians I know admit there are pros and cons to the chicken pox vaccine. They admit that the economical reason is one of the main benefits, and they admit that it's up to us whether or not to vaccinate for chicken pox. If we decide against the vaccination they are okay with that decision. When it comes to polio, tetanus, and mmr vaccines they are more convincing. If the chicken pox vaccine were a serious public health issue they would more strongly recommend it and they don't. The doctor's only concern is a healthy child. He has no ulterior motive.

Here is your initial post on the subject:

FWIW ... My children were 3 & 1 when the chicken pox vaccine first showed up at the pediatrician's office. He had a pamphlet for me to read. The pamphlet, and the doctor, promoted the vaccine as beneficial to working parents who could not afford to stay home from work while their children were in quarantine. He advised that since our children were not in day care or school, the vaccine wasn't necessary. It was only later that the pox vaccine became urgent. I guess when the pharmacy profits were added in to the equation.

Which is it? You keep changing the subject to politicians and school districts. The decision between the patient and doctor. Is it "urgent" or not?

BTW, if there was a change in recommendations from when the chickenpox vaccine was released and "later", it would be easy to look up, the CDC vaccine recommendations are public record.

[carmody]

Which is it? When the vaccine was first available the pediatrician and I discussed the issue. He and I agreed that it was unnecessary. Years later, when the children were already in school, the state (school) sent paperwork home requesting that we provide proof that they were vaccinated or proof that they had chicken pox. The issue has been revisited with the doctor and he does not have a problem with not vaccinating for chicken pox. It's not an issue to him. When I said "only later did the vaccine become urgent", I was not referring to the doctor. I meant it became urgent to the school. My fault. I should have been more clear about that point.

The state/school (run by politicians who require votes and money)wants all children to be vaccinated. I question their motives. We're back to my original point. The urgency for chicken pox vaccine was driven by???? Not MY doctor. My guess is still politicians & drug companies. They can sell the policy to the public because it benefits families, but I still believe the primary reason for the shift in policy was both political and private profit. And you're right; I can't prove it.