Though chickenpox symptoms are usually fairly mild for most children, some people, including babies and pregnant women, are at risk of chickenpox complications. Vaccination is considered to be the safest way to develop immunity, but some parents still host chickenpox parties to deliberately expose their children to the virus.
When the owner of an indoor play center found out that parents were hosting a chickenpox party at the play center, she was shocked and disgusted.
Parents who want to have chickenpox parties should do so in private, she said.
Jane Coulson owns Play World, an indoor play center in Gainsborough, England. Speaking to the BBC, Jane said that a “concerned mother” warned her that other parents planned on hosting a chickenpox party at the center. She told the BBC that the party idea was “very selfish,” and that the play center was not the place for it.
“If you want to have a chickenpox party, have it in your own home,” she told the news outlet.
She was worried about how the party could affect people with weakened immune systems.
Because most people experience mild symptoms, getting chickenpox might not seem like a huge deal. But for some individuals, the virus can be serious and even life-threatening, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Having a chickenpox party in public could put babies, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems at risk. It is particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
Understandably, Jane and several parents who take their kids to the play center were worried about the chickenpox party.
One mom named Joanna pointed out that people who visit the play center might have health issues. “(A chickenpox party) could put other people in danger,” she told the BBC. Another parent, Beth, told the news outlet that having a chickenpox party in public is “not fair” to others.
Jane pointed out that children with weakened immune systems often visit the space. “If your child is ill, don’t bring them to a place like this,” she urged, per the BBC.
The virus is highly contagious.
Additionally, even seemingly healthy children can experience complications. This is why the CDC advises against chickenpox parties. “There is no way to tell in advance how severe your child’s symptoms will be,” according to the agency. “So, it is not worth taking the chance of exposing your child to someone with the disease.”
Per Mayo Clinic, the chickenpox vaccine is considered to be safe and effective. Usually, side effects are mild and might include soreness or redness at the injection area.
