Outrageous Actions by Several Parents: Would You Intentionally Give Your Child Chicken Pox?

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?

A Closer Look at “Pox Parties” and Why They’re Growing in Popularity

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.

According to reports, some parents travel from out of state just to attend these parties.

The “Tenting Method” and “Baggie Back-up”: Unconventional Techniques to Spread the Virus

So, how exactly do these pox parties work? Some parents have developed creative—if questionable—methods to ensure the virus spreads. In one instance, hosts describe using a “tenting method,” where an infected child sits in an enclosed space, contaminating the air.

Then, a healthy child is placed in that same area with toys to occupy them while they “breathe in” the virus. Another shared technique is the “Baggie Back-up Method,” where an infected child breathes into a sandwich bag, and a healthy child then inhales from it.

One host even encouraged “bonus points” for kids sharing snacks from the same bowl. In this way, the virus is intentionally circulated, supposedly allowing kids to develop immunity after one illness.

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