Worried about giving your kids sweets? How about a chickenpox lolly…

Chickenpox is one of those illnesses that as parents, we actively want our children to get. Allegedly to try and protect them from having a more serious reaction when they are older, and not just because we want them to be all listless and lie quietly somewhere.

Many of my friends got terribly excited when their kids were small if they heard of anyone with the pox, and would take their own healthy offspring round to ‘play’. I say play, but mainly it revolved around plenty of coughing, sneezing, and generally rubbing the children up against each other as much as possible.

In this UK we don’t vaccinate against chickenpox, but in the US they do, and parents worried about their children’s reactions to the vaccinations are adopting more extreme, alternative methods.

Like sending licked lollipops through the post.

I mean seriously, I know Americans have a bit of a reputation for not always being the sharpest tools in the box, but come on – licked lollipops? For a start, chickenpox is mainly an airborne virus, but even if it wasn’t, it’s just a bit gross isn’t it? Who wants to lick a second-hand lollipop that’s been through the postal system?

Weird.

Perhaps it will catch on in this country as a way to get out of school or boring meetings at work.

Don’t fancy going in today but don’t like that awkward phoning in and trying to make yourself sound ill? Simple, just go online and order yourself a half eaten sandwich from someone with D&V, or a partially nibbled Snickers from a leper.

I think I see a gap in the market. Dial-a-disease. You heard it here first.

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16 Comments

  1. 11 November, 2011 / 11:21 am

    I saw the article and thought how stupid! :)

  2. 11 November, 2011 / 4:13 pm

    yes measle. chicken pox, mumps or german measles parties were the in thing when my children were young, my friend and I helped spread it from my end of the town to hers and vise versa……aaahhhh the good old days…lol
    but this is taking it a bit far! Wonder if you get a refund if it doesn’t work? mind you observe any group of kids with lollipops Im sure there is plenty of sharing going on naturally include the yummy snotty bit attached to it.
    If you want help with the half eaten D&V sandwiches give me a shout I work in a hospital….

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:23 pm

      You work in a hospital Elaine? You could make a fortune! :-)

  3. Stacey K
    11 November, 2011 / 7:21 pm

    Just like there are some not-so-smart people in America, the same holds true for GB.

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:23 pm

      I know, I was only joking… :-)

    • 15 November, 2011 / 12:41 pm

      “Not so smart” isn’t an entirely American and/or UK trait, I’ve met some right *&^%^&*£ in all sorts of countries :)

  4. F. Lucas
    11 November, 2011 / 9:08 pm

    I am wondering why the blogger felt the need to include the remark about Americans? How can she qualify such a statement? ‘Weird’ – and I am quoting from her – people exist both sides of the pond. Just as there are highly intelligent people in both countries, there are people with low IQs in both.
    I bet the blogger hasn’t even been to the States and even if she has, she would have to travel to several states before she even thought about making such a judgement.
    Perhaps she should apply at an Ivy league instiution – I mean there’s no chance of rejection with her talent and brains is there?!

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:26 pm

      Well OBVIOUSLY I don’t really think all Americans are dolts, and the ‘weird’ referred to the sending of licked lollies through the post, not Americans as a group of people.

      I don’t REALLY believe that everyone in the UK is either a fox-hunting, port swilling toff, or a frozen burger eating, Asda loving benefit scrounger, but I might say either in a tongue in cheek way as a joke.

      Chill out yeah? :-)

  5. F .Lucas
    11 November, 2011 / 11:15 pm

    Oh, The Daily Mail, well that explains a few things – a very reliable source! The only tool in the box is the one writing this blog!

    • 12 November, 2011 / 12:05 am

      Just out of curiosity (and I have been to the USA, many times and I am not in the UK), just what do you think of the concept?

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:27 pm

      My link is to an article on the BBC website. And we ALL know that the BBC is trustworthy. Like the Queen and fish and chips.

  6. 12 November, 2011 / 2:07 pm

    For the record, this blogger is one of the wittiest and nicest writers I have had the pleasure to read posts from, all she has done is merely express her opinion on a piece of news, in quite a witty way I feel!
    Lucas, dont take life so seriously it really isn’t good for you, BTW would you like a lollipop? xx :-)

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:27 pm

      Ahhh, thanks for defending me :-)

      Lollipops all round to lighten the mood methinks.

  7. Elisabeth
    13 November, 2011 / 4:47 pm

    Hello,
    I am tempted to write a dreadful pun here and say that this alternative method really sucks!
    I am a mother of three, British, but have lived in the US for several years and have never heard of this practice. I certainly wouldn’t do it and suspect that it is just a fringe minority who have been leapt upon by the tabloids (a bit like those awful pageant moms).
    Btw, all of my American friends are intelligent, articulate and highly educated. Most of my friends work in the medical field (cardiologists, neurologists and dentists).

    • 14 November, 2011 / 4:28 pm

      Oooh! I love the lolly pun! I’m jealous that I didn’t think of it :-)

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