Greg Michaels’ Questions About Chicken Pox

Here in Maine we’ve seen a huge rise in the numbers of chicken pox cases this past school year.

So far 84 cases, which is nearly double over the 2013-2014 school year.

The reason for 57 of the 84 cases, unvaccinated, under-vaccinated children. This includes children who got the disease and were too young to be immunized.

[Source]

I’m not going to rant or give an opinion on whether kids should or should not be vaccinated. I want to know if you’re OK if you had just a mild case or think you had a mild case of chicken pox as a teenager.

I have heard, getting chicken pox as an adult is much worse than if you contract the illness as a kid.

Back when I was 17, I had a mild case of chicken pox or so I understand. My first question is, can you get it twice, my understanding is no.

At 17, as I say I had chicken pox but the thing that concerns me slightly is, I never was diagnosed by a doctor. I got itchy red spots along with flu like symptoms and it was assumed I had had it.

Can you get vaccinated against chicken pox if you’ve had it? Can a doctor tell by a blood test whether you’ve had it? Can you get the vaccination twice in you life? I’m just not sure if I’ve had a chicken pox vaccination in adulthood. From the ages of 19 to 26 I lived a very scattered life and going to the doctor wasn’t a thing I did often.

Not trying to over dramatize my stress, just wondering what to do.