Day 8: Can Julia get Chicken Pox?

Monday, September 17, 2007 - The nurse from the Chenery Middle School left a message that their computer had flagged Julia for not having a Chicken Pox vaccination. In the context of Mady's illness, she thought that this needed to be taken care of urgently.

How could this be possible? She gets an annual exam and plenty of shots if needed... no Chicken Pox vaccination? Sheesh.

Turns out that she got one in Washington state at the age of 7 months, but Massachusetts doesn't count the shot unless it's given after the child is a year old. Her pediatrician says it would be best for Mady if Julia didn't need another vaccine, and the state will accept a blood test showing Julia's immunity to Chicken Pox.

So, today I brought Julia in for her first (that she remembers) blood test. Her relief that she wasn't getting a shot turned to horror when she saw the blood draw needle. The nurse was very good and it wasn't too painful... but Julia got to experience a tiny bit of what Mady's going through every day.