Pox

From Chickenpox

Why?  Because it probably produces more complete immunity than the vaccination and has negligible rates of complication.  Because our pediatrician, whom we have every reason to trust, thought it was a fine idea.  Because we recalled the week when Felix had it as only mildly discomfiting for him and quite pleasant for us.  So we kept an eye out for an infection in the neighborhood and joined in when we found it.

In the midst of it--say, 48 hours in, with Gideon fevered and miserable--we doubted ourselves.  More lost sleep, an unhappy baby, banned from daycare, oh the troubles we've seen.  But trouble after the fact doesn't invalidate the decision as made.

By the way, I'm all in favor of making this a mandatory vaccination:  1 in 80,000 chance of fatal complications is not something an individual parent need worry about in a world of fast cars, hot outlets, and spicy cleaning agents, but if society as a whole can save the sum total of deaths and hospitalizations that represents then it probably should.