Shingrix vaccine

[Westie11-]

I received my first vaccine back in February this year and was so pleased to finally get some protection against Shingles. However,it was only through reading comments/posts on this site that I learned that I should have been asked back for a 2nd vaccine.

Today, although past the stated 6 months stated when you should have it, I received my 2nd one. Once again it shows how valuable this site to all.

Just thought I would post so everyone knows to make sure they get 2.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

[gardening-girl]

Westie11-, good to hear that you have received a followup Shringrix shot. I'm wondering though since you are currently on Calquence/aclabrutinib whether you have also been prescribed prophylactic anti-shingles aciclovir or valciclovir. If you haven't, you could bring the documents cited below to the attention of your doctor.

A recent pinned post by CLLerinOz has a link to an NHS recommendation for prophylaxis for shingles.   healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

“CLL patients should receive the non-live (Shingrix) shingles vaccine if eligible. If a patient has a history of shingles, then they should still receive lifelong Aciclovir as secondary prophylaxis in addition to the Shingrix vaccine.“

Information for GPs on managing and supporting patients living well with high-count Monoclonal B-cell Lymphocytosis or CLL  -  Oxford University Hospitals NHS

nssg.oxford-haematology.org...

BTK inhibitors impair humoral and cellular responses to recombinant zoster vaccine in CLL pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/351...

“…BTKi therapy significantly impairs vaccine responses, eliciting humoral responses in only 40.0% of patients.”

If you have never been exposed to the Varicella Zoster virus, then prophylactic treatment may not be an issue for you, but for many of us who have experienced shingles, anything that has a chance to hold the virus at bay is welcome.

[Westie11- in reply to gardening-girl]

Thanks for all the information. I will discuss this with my consultant who I am due to see next Monday. I havent had shingles, thankfully, only chickenpox.

[gardening-girl in reply to Westie11-]

Make sure your consultant knows that you have had chickenpox! The chickenpox virus, Varicella Zoster, is exactly the same virus that causes shingles. When our immune system is compromsed by CLL or by treatment for CLL, the virus which has remained silent in our cells since the chickenpox infection decades ago, is reactivated, causing shingles.