Shingles vaccination advice please

[annmcgowan]

Can anyone tell me if it is safe for me to be around friends and family who have had the live shingles vaccination?Ann

[Susiecarer]

Sorry Ann, not really sure, but one presumes if they have had the vaccine, all, if any, side effects have come and gone, I would think it was ok, but I’m sure someone on here with more experience about this subject will be able to help. My hubby and I are waiting for the Shingrix vaccine.

Susiecarer

[annmcgowan]

Hi thank you. I am waiting for shingrix too. Unfortunately many people around me, having reached 70, are currently having or concidering the shingles vaccination.

Kind regards

Ann

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Yes, it is safe according to this Mayo Clinic article: mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

Even when someone has shingles, it's not contagious unless the fluid filled vesicles break, though avoidance of those infected by shingles is recommended by the CDC: cdc.gov/shingles/about/tran...

Neil

[annmcgowan]

Thank you very much.

Ann

[Mlftw in reply to annmcgowan]

Please see my reply to Lola

[annmcgowan in reply to Mlftw]

Thank you.

Ann

[Workers]

Hi Ann ,my husband went to the Drs for his shingles vaccination last week and because of me he couldn’t have it ,but she had a good idea ,send me on holiday for two weeks and he could have it done ,not bad eh ? Lol 😆

[annmcgowan]

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Ann😂

[Beattiem-UK]

Hi Ann. My CLL specialist recommended that my husband have the vaccination in order to protect me. As usual, we often get conflicting advice!

[annmcgowan]

Yes unfortunately that is very true. Our practice nurse didn’t even know that the shingles vaccine is live and she injects the patients!!!

Thank you for the reply,

Ann

[jaysearch]

Hi Ann:

This was one of the topics at our group's last meeting. Best advice we calculated was that since there was still so many conflicting opinions, it was best to avoid those who had taken the "Live" shot for a few weeks. The Shingrex is not a "live" shot, but people have come down with Shingles after getting this shot as well. Conclusions have yet to become facts, so we opted to stay away from anyone who recently had either shot (if that is at all possible).

[annmcgowan]

Thank you good advice.

Ann

[tsvieps]

Bottom line is that it depends on the condition of your immune system. My doc told me and my wife to avoid it because it was a live vaccine and my immune system was weak toward viruses.

But I did end up with real full born shingles. It left me with nerve damage in the face from which I have not recovered after over 4 years. By hind sight, I likely would have been better off with the vaccine, even if resulted in a mild case. But is there such a thing. If a full case developed because of the vaccine, I would be even more upset than I am about acquiring it without some kind of intentional exposure.

[lankisterguy Volunteer in reply to tsvieps]

Dear tsvieps,

As jaysearch says about the two different vaccinations for Shingles.

The older vaccine Zostavax (ZVL) was a live vaccine, so transmission risk to someone that never had Chicken Pox is possible.

The vaccine approved in 2018 Shingrix (RZV) is not live.

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mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

Your doctor's caution also refers to the previous shingles vaccine (Zostavax) that is a live-attenuated vaccine, meaning it uses a weakened form of the live virus. A new shingles vaccine (Shingrix) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017. The new vaccine is inactivated, meaning it uses a dead version of the virus, eliminating the risk of transmission.

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Len

[annmcgowan]

Thanks Len.

Ann