<p>I guess (although not specifically tested) you can count my wife as case 1 of the middle aged (50) adult getting the bug. However, you can put an asterisk by it, as she is on immuno-supressive drugs. </p>
<p>Interesting policy of opt-out. While goaliegirl’s school is pushing it, the parents must sign forms to opt in.</p>
<p>It is a bit disturbing to me to have an opt-out policy for a vaccination that is not required anywhere I know.</p>
<p>For example, I could understand an opt-out on chicken-pox vaccination, as many jurisdictions require it for public schools. </p>
<p>And actually the chicken-pox vaccination is one that I probably think will come back to bite us some day. </p>
<p>They seem to be vaccinating every kid as early as they can these days. The problem is that chicken-pox is almost never fatal and rarely significantly harmful in children under 12.</p>
<p>And once you get a significant case of it as a kid, you are pretty well set for life not worrying about the possibility of death. In rare cases you might get shingles later on, but not the potentially deadly full blown chicken-pox.</p>
<p>I guess chicken-pox vaccine works for a lifetime if you get it often enough. That said, I’d hate to make so many people keep track of when the last time they had a chicken-pox vaccine. Heck, 95% of Americans can’t tell you when the last time they had a tetinus shot. In about 30 years you will see a rise in deaths from chicken-pox just because so many parents have elected to have their children bypass those temporary, ugly, itchy blemishes.</p>
<p>I’d rather see the policy of not allowing children under the age of 11 to get the vaccine and then require it during their 12th year if they cannot provide a doctor’s diagnosis of having had the disease. That will reduce the number of adults who will need to keep track of their vaccinations and thus reduce the possibilities of death from chicken-pox.</p>
<p>I guess I’ve gone OT.</p>