Parents Are Hosting ‘Chicken Pox Parties’ Instead of Vaccinating—But at What Risk?
In an unusual trend, some parents are skipping vaccines and hosting “chicken pox parties” instead. Organized through private Facebook groups, these gatherings aim to intentionally expose healthy children to the virus by interacting with already-infected kids. But just how safe—or risky—is this approach?
The idea behind these “pox parties” is rooted in parental skepticism about vaccines. Some parents believe that exposing their children to chicken pox at a young age could build “natural immunity” and spare them from getting the disease later in life, which can come with greater health risks. Instead of vaccinations, which they fear might carry side effects, they turn to these gatherings, where their kids can catch chicken pox naturally.
So, how exactly do these pox parties work? Some parents have developed creative—if questionable—methods to ensure the virus spreads.
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