At 68 and 66 my partner and I are too young to qualify for a NHS shingles vaccination.
I'm due for investigation and a possible touch up ablation on the 11th Feb and am considering paying for us to be vaccinated privately to avoid the possible risks associated with a bout of shingles. My partner has multiple health issues and, as the principal "doer" in our family, I'm keen for us both to avoid as many avoidable conditions as possible.
Would a shingles vaccination this weekend be too close to my possible procedure date on the 11th February?
Any thoughts?
I had a bout of shingles twenty years ago and well remember how compromised I was ath the time.
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I had shingles in my eye just a few years ago, and after it had been cured my GP recommended having the jab, in fact "recommend" isn't the right word, she virtually said I'd be mad not to. Then she explained that I didn't qualify under the rules (whilst raising her eyes in exasperation), I'm in my 60's. Anyhow, shortly afterwards the nurse called me in and gave me the jab, "by mistake" 😉.
I wouldn't know about it relating to your upcoming procedure though.
PS. I would definitely pay for the jab. Have shingles in your eye sort of makes £100 or so seem like petty cash.
Thanks for sharing your experience and for the info. I'll look into the practicalities over the weekend.
At 69.5 years I asked about NHS shingles vaccination at 70. I was told that it would be given in the 12 months 70-71 but only if there were sufficient supplies available. At that point, I looked about for a private vaccination, and after considerable difficulty found an NHS practice which charged £60. I had minimal side effects.
This paper suggests a 6% recurrence rate for shingles. But I can see that ablation might enhance that risk. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
As an observation, my mother had shingles at 55, which left her effectively blind in one eye, with intermittent pain for the next 40 years.
I wish I'd organised a shot earlier. One of my friend's has shingles which is what set me thinking about getting vaccinated. We haven't been in direct contact as she lives 400 miles away.
Shingles CAN BE very nasty, the nerve damage that can result can be devastating, and leave permanent damages.
This become especially true if the patient's immune system is not functioning at 100%
There is a NEW VACCINE called SHINGREX, which is more effective and is NOT a live vaccine and thus safer. Unfortunately in short supply but can be found in both the UK and the USA.
Two injections over a timed period.
The older vaccines are readily available and the US CDC has excellent information on their website.
I copy below all the information and suggest you thoroughly check the CDC pages.
Good luck with you latest doctors visit...
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Pneumococcal vaccines.
From the recently updated NHS Website in the UK, see below for the USA.
Adults and children over the age of five who are severely immunocompromised (including anyone with leukaemia; multiple myeloma; genetic disorders affecting the immune system or after a bone marrow transplant) usually have a single dose of PCV followed by PPV.
While the pages below were written for those in the USA, they apply to anyone in the UK or the world. The CDC pdf files are easy and clear to read showing all possible combinations of the two vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ( USA )
ACIP Recommendations for PCV13 and PPSV23 Use
Both PCV13 and PPSV23 should be administered routinely in series to all adults aged ≥65 years.
Pneumococcal vaccine-naïve persons. Adults aged ≥65 years who have not previously received pneumococcal vaccine or whose previous vaccination history is unknown should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23.
The dose of PPSV23 should be given 6–12 months after a dose of PCV13.
The two vaccines should not be coadministered, and the minimum acceptable interval between PCV13 and PPSV23 is 8 weeks.
Sadly many medics don’t know the most recent recommendations for Prevnar for immuno-compromised people. Prevnar used to be only for children, but that changed several years ago.
This is a quote from Dr Furman, a renowned leukaemia expert in America.
“….Prevnar (PCV13) is more effective than pneumovax (PPSV23) and should therefore be given first. The concern is that if you have already received pneumovax (PPSV23) and then receive Prevnar ( PCV13), you may blunt your immune response generation to the Prevnar by clearing the vaccine proteins with the pneumovax vaccine.” –
Dr Rick Furman (in a reply to Dan on the CLL/SLL Groups IO forum on 10th July 2018).
Opinions vary as to how long a gap is needed if someone has been given Pneumovax without having had Prevnar earlier. The British “Green Book” says it should be at least 6 months, but I’ve seen some American sources say it’s best to wait a full year.
I don't know what I would advise and can only give you my experience. I had shingles about twenty years ago. Last September I had a successful ablation and in the October had both my shingles and flu vaccinations under the NHS and at the same time. I was then extremely unlucky to get shingles from the vaccination. Not as badly as the first time but it was right down the side of my face and into my scalp and although it only lasted about 3 weeks my scalp remained extremely tender for a good month longer. The doctor put it down to my having strong antibiotics for a chest infection after the ablation which lowered my immune system and maybe because I had both vaccinations together but she said that the shingles vaccination is a live one. It might be worth getting advice about having it so close to the ablation. On a good note it did not cause any heart complications and I remained in NSR the whole time! Good luck
Thanks; concern about posiible side effects or a mild dose of shingles so close to my procedure was partly what prompted my question. I'll ring the arrhythmia nurses on Monday and see what they advise.
I am sorry but I forgot to mention that a week after having the vaccinations I flew to the US and the doctor also speculated that this might have put me more at risk too.
I had shingles 4 times last year. I’m nearly 68. I’m sure you will not be able to pay for it . You have to be 70. I asked, they told me that, even though I’m always getting them. Dam painful . Good luck if you can have it
The complete vaccination consists of two injections with a timed interval between them.
Sadly many medical personnel are NOT up to date, and so do not be mislead by what you might hear from surgeries and hospitals
The NHS reports that it could be 2 years before this vaccine is readily available on the NHS.
Note that your doctors team will need to find out the cost to have it couriered; which is likely to be expensive, as stringent temperature care in transport needs to be taken.
Hampstead Heath is a long way off. I may get the more readilly available live vaccine instead. I'm going to check with my EP team and see if they have a view on geting the shot just a week before my procedure,
I got shingles last fall and it was a very mild case with little itching or discomfort But the slight skin discomfort and discoloration lasted for a couple months and during that time I had a 24 hour AF episode. During this time I guess that I had a very minor heart attack. They may have had no association with the shingles but who knows. I did have a shingles shot about 10 years ago but they allegedly are only effecive for about 5 years. My doctor did not want to give me the newer Shingrix until my symptoms were all gone. I'll see him next week and will remind him.
I hope you’re planning on getting the Shingrix vaccine. It’s in 2 doses to be spread out over 3-6 months as I was instructed. I paid out of pockets as I had them the first time with the blisters and then reoccurrences x3. And I had the first vaccines given to me x2 a year apart. It’s about $50 here in the US . Each injection I would check with your EP who is doing your ablation ASAP just to be sure. He’ll no doubt be pleased that you asked him. Best of Luck to you. Sarah from San Diego
Shingrix is not a live vaccine and is supposedly 95-97 % effective if you get the two injections. You hopefully will not have to experience any more reoccurrences. I got it in my ear x 2 and my neurologist finally put me on a 3 month regimen twice a day tablets. So far so good. And I then had my second vaccine given to me. 🤞 take care. Sarah.
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