You may have heard of chicken pox parties, where one (or more) children are actively dealing with a case of chicken pox, and several other children are not, all hang out and play together in hopes of building "natural immunity" to the disease.
Well now there is something even more dangerous, and illegal, and it involves complete strangers and lollipops.
Social media (like Facebook) has spawned sharing groups where parents sign up to receive a pre-licked lollipop from a child with chicken pox (and who knows what else). What parents don't realize, is that sending a disease, virus, or contagion through the post office or other mail service is illegal. This crime carries a sentence of between less then a year to 20 years if convicted.
Here's the
news story I was sent.
Would you participate in such an exchange?
 Lollipop Exchange "Pin It")
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Comments (31)
*Thud*
That's me headdesking. Repeatedly.
Seriously? Vaccines are too dangerous, but you're ok with exposing your child to a random stranger's bodily fluids?
I'm sorry but this is so fucking STUPID. It ranks right up there with Pox Parties. Do people realize Chicken Pox isnt just a week off school with itchy skin? They can fucking kill you. Not to mention whatever else you can pick up from licking a stranger's lollipop. I got the vaccine but I got a very mild case of Chicken Pox in school too. So mild no one noticed until I was almost at the tale end of it.
@just_the_average_jane@xanga - Love & rec'd you comment!
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - They can but it is only the rare cases that it does that, at least in children anyhow (though it is a different case for adults and the elderly and much deadlier. Which is why I'm going to make my bf get the chicken pox vaccine). And most kids recover from chicken pox rather quickly. Fuck, I had chicken pox and I have no visible scars but all I remember is being itchy all over and being miserable for a week but that was all. Though I do know I have a greater chance for shingles but I have a greater chance for diabetes as well, among other things but that doesn't mean I'll get it either. It reminds me of the Star Trek: TNG Season 7 finale "All Good Things..", where Picard discovered that he has defects that could make him more prone to getIrumodic Syndrome but I was reminded by his wise words, that the future is not set in stone and could change. Risks are just that, I believe. Though I do believe this is the wrong way to get chicken pox.
My mind just went blank. I don't understand why anyone would do that. You wouldn't want to vaccinate your child but you would let them have a pre-licked lollipop from a random person on facebook.
@Hinase@xanga - It's good you're making him get it. Please tell him shingles affects the nerves & it's VERY painful. The first client I worked with was recovering from shingles & he had them in his EYE. Thank God he wasnt in pain though. And there's no cure for shingles so they can pop up at anytime.
Diseases now are different because of mutation. The more people resist vaccines, the more diseases we thought were eradicated in this part of the world are coming back (mostly due to travel). And because of that, the body cant fight them & they become even worse or deadly. I've seen stories of children dying of a simple thing like pneumonia, which yes you can fight off with the proper meds & rest if caught in time but they didnt get the pneumococcal vaccine that would have saved their lives.
My mom doesnt have scars but I felt so bad hearing her pox story. She got them in the 60s REALLY bad, they were ALL OVER HER!! Even on the palms of her hands & soles of her feet. Even in her scalp!! Grandma had to part her hair around the pox. Luckily she didnt go bald or have a reccurance of them. There was no vaccine back then so when you did get it, you got them with a vengenance. Mine were concentrated on my trunk & I had like 5 pox on my face, which is why I said in my original comment no one noticed I had them until I was at the tail end of the disease.
And yay you're quoting Trek! We successfully converted another one! XD!! But in all seriousness, yes the future isnt set in stone but I wish people would stop thinking that just because someone is young, they can fair better against disease. We're underestimating viruses & bacteria & it's a deadly mistake.
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - Actually he's getting it because he's never had chicken pox at all. I fear for his health more than ever.
True, diseases are different from back then, but I still think letting your immune system fight a simple case of chicken pox is fine and just healthy unless you notice other troubling symptoms and I think that is when you should get help but I don't find anything wrong with getting the virus itself, just not in this way and how they are doing this.
Though I do agree with a lot of the other immunizations minus a few that I'm not sure about it(have to research them)..but I'm all for immunizations in the end.
I've always loved Star Trek ;D Picard all the way man. Lol
It's just that you have a much better chance to fight off infections etc; when you are young and healthy than if you are sick or have a disease that suppresses the immune system. You have a better chance of survival. Of course we shouldn't underestimate it, but we shouldn't underestimate what our immune systems can do either. I just say keep an eye on it and use your judgement on any kind of situation especially when it comes to diseases or such. I know I intended to go to the doctors because I felt like I was getting worse with my cold and thought it was bronchitis (it wasn't, thank god!) but I let my immune system get at it. It's best to stay and prepare for the worse either way and be a few steps ahead.
Ouch, that's pretty bad but again, I've read and heard those kinds of attacks are very rare regardless but like I've said, it's different for adults and the elderly and possibly the people sick with a immune suppressing disease. I just say be prepared and stay in the middle in those types of situations, so nothing is ever underestimated or overestimated.
At this point in my life, shingles might be horrible and maybe some outcome in my future or not but I know I'd pick physical pain over mental any day if given the choice.
what's wrong with pox parties? my mom exposed me to a friend's son with chicken pox when i was two. I got them and now I never have to worry about them again. This, is downright stupid because the virus doesn't stay on the lollipop in the mail for three days.... duh.
@Hinase@xanga - Actually if you got Shingles at your present age (& I sincerely hope you dont, knock on wood!!!) it's better because you're younger & healthier & you have a slim chance of getting it again. My client was in his 90s & before he got it, he was self sufficient & active. While he was recovering, he was in rehab (I was there helping him for a few weeks) & then he went home but still needed 24 hour assistance.
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - My mentality is this: if it happens, it happens. Those things are really out of my control, you know? It really comes down to risks but for me, I don't feel like my body will betray me ( not yet anyhow lol) and it is a waste for me to get the vaccine in my mind. If I get shingles, I get it. I just learn how to deal with the situation etc;
The insurance thing isn't really that worries me it is just the time and money, you know? I've already gotten the virus due to being born in the late late 80's, so I think I would be wasting money to get the vaccine anyhow.
Though I do intend to make sure my bf gets the vaccine for his health anyhow. I'm more worried about him, you know?
Wow, his 90's? O.o Crazzzzzzzyyyyy
I think that is disgusting and gross and I would never do that. A licked lolipop through the mail? Who comes up with this stuff? Seriously! lol
Is it not possible to get shingles later in life with the chicken pox vaccine?
@just_the_average_jane@xanga - My thoughts exactly. I am almost positive a vaccine with a dead or weakened virus from a sterile needle is A LOT safer. But try telling that to someone with a child with autism who just wants someone to blame. *sigh*
@Digital_Angel21@xanga - I love how autism is the fall boy for all who are opposed to the overvaccination of our babies. Don't you realize there are other concerns out there? We are not dummies who follow the single possible thread of autism. That isn't even top 10 in my concerns.
But chicken pox by mail? Ridiculous. I'm pretty sure the incidence of this happening was very low and exaggerated as some kind of epidemic by the extremists.
@sarahsmurfette@xanga - Well, it is the only argument I've heard beyond the broad opposition to Big Pharma and medications in general.
It's worrying that people need to be warned AGAINST this. Are people really that moronic?
We don't vaccinate for chicken pox (and yes, we understand the chance of shingles and all that), and while I would allow my son to be exposed to other children with chicken pox, I would't do this far. This is ridiculous and trying to force something to happen, kind of on chance. Besides, would the virus even live on a sucker that long?!
P.S. Autism is not my concern with vaccinations for the record. I hate that some of us non-vaxers have to add that disclaimer these days.
O....kay? What the heck! I didn't even know that people do this!!!! This is crazy!
@mycontinuity@xanga - i got the chicken pox vaccine and had the shingles. so did my mom and my brother. all of us were vaccinated.
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - I got shingles my freshman year in college. I really hope its true that getting it when you are young means it won't be something that happens through out my life. It was in the nerve that wrapped around my clavicle and shoulder and it hurt straight down to the BONE. So painful, and also very scary if you get it on your nose, because that means it can be in a nerve that can lead to your brain!
... are people dumb?
@pretty_inx_plaid@xanga - Yes.
@brain___child@xanga - Oh dear!!! I'm glad you recovered from that!!! It makes me want to cry, I cant imagine having pain like that ongoing for weeks! ::hug:: Yes it's true the younger you are, the better your chances BUT I hate when people use that as their only defense. Younger doesnt mean better. However in your case, I'm sure the chances are slim.
There is a vacine for shingles called Zostavax but it's for people 50+ because that's the normal age bracket for shingles. It reduces your chance of getting it & like with other vaccines, if you happen to get the disease, you wont get it as badly.
eww gross
Darn. I wrote about this but submitted it to Healthkicker.
I don't know which is worse.. people thinking this is actually possible or people believing the pox shot is actually a good idea.
Every single person I know who has gotten this shot has still gotten the pox. And only 1 had a "mild" case. A mentor of mine got the shingles shot, and it resulted in such a sever case of shingles that she passed away.
And a little FYI about the pox that I got from speaking to my Dr yesterday.. you are contagious for a week before the spots actually show up. The only time "pox parties" work is when there are siblings who have not had the pox yet and are hopefully in the contagious stage.
Honestly, some people will believe anything.