Shingles vaccine

[Gilliancheche]

My husband has been called in for a shingles vaccination. Am i correct that he should ask for a non live vaccine as the love vaccine poses a risk to me as I am immune suppressed? I seem to remember hearing this somewhere. Still struggling to get answer fro my nurse advice line. Thanks

[vonniesims]

Good question. Look forward to what you find out, maybe NRAS could help

[helixhelix]

No, he can have the normal vaccine and you just need to be aware to watch out for a rash. As that’s when there is a risk. But he should tell the person vaccinating him and see what they say.

This is from Cancer Research UK about the chicken pox/shingles vaccine which relates to people on cancer treatmemts who are much, much more immunocompromised than we are.

Contact with those who have been vaccinated

The company who make the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax) have specific advice to people whose immunity is low. They recommend that they should try to avoid close contact with anyone who has had the chickenpox vaccine for up to 6 weeks following the vaccination.

However, Public Health England (PHE) explain that the risk of a person developing chickenpox or shingles as a result of contact with a vaccinated person is very low. Avoiding contact is not always possible and practical.

They suggest that contact does not have to be avoided unless the vaccinated person develops a rash.  Some people may develop a rash following their chickenpox or shingles vaccine. There is a very small risk that the vaccine virus could be passed on from the rash of the vaccinated person to a person with a weak immune system.

So PHE recommend that anyone with a vaccine related rash should cover up their rash when in contact with a person with low immunity. It should be covered until the rash is dry and crusted. Contact only has to be avoided if the rash cannot be covered.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

[medway-lady in reply to helixhelix]

I’m sorry but my husband was refused the live vaccine last year by GP because of the risk to me. I had to have the dead one before he could have the live as he has Asthma and they aren’t allowed the dead vaccine.

[helixhelix in reply to medway-lady]

Each doctor presumably does his or her own risk assessment. So many potential variables.

[AgedCrone]

All people with auto immune diseases are recommended not to have any live vaccines.

Get your husband to have a word with his consultant.

I was constantly offered the live vaccine by my GP, & repeatedly wrote back, explaining why I couldn’t have it. My letters were completely ignored& I got the same offer year after year ….in the end I just gave up replying.

[helixhelix in reply to AgedCrone]

Husband doesn’t have auto-immune disease! The question is about his subsequent contact with her.

[AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix]

Oh I was in hospital having my Rtx infusion when I wrote that.

Sorry Gilliancheche… I haven’t had it for so long it must have addled my brain this time!

[medway-lady]

Yes it is correct unless like my husband he has Asthma and they he can’t have that one. In our case I had the dead then he had the live 2 months later.

[Knittinggirl]

hi when I went for the shingles vaccine the nurse said I shouldn’t have the live vaccine which meant having 2 separate doses a couple of weeks apart!