Hi has anyone any experience of having had the shingles vaccine? My GP wants me to get the live vaccine along with this winter flu jag.

He predicts regular flare ups of my PMR. I have had shingles a couple of times in the past, I think. Both times I was prescribed the appropriate drug to knock it on the head. In retrospect was it shingles or PMR I never had any visible signs just burning pain which makes me wonder!

[optimist-ok]

Hello Sharkadder. I had a severe dose of shingles last Feb. I would certainly recommend having the vaccination if poss. It does reduce the severity if you do get a case of shingles. Unfortunately I'm not in the right age group to have it. Its a very selective age chosen to have this. With shingles there is a very uncomfortable rash, raised spots that blister before they disappear, they follow a nerve system, so maybe your past problem was not shingles after all?

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

The shingles vaccine is a live vaccine and, as such, should not be taken by those on steroids. When shingles is suspected, anti-viral medication should be taken as soon as possible to help shorten the duration and reduce the likelihood of ongoing nerve pain.

Having the winter flu jab is a personal decision - however, it isn't very effective this winter as the virus has mutated since the vaccine was produced.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are on prednisolone (or any other immunosuppressant drug) it is NOT advised to have the shingles vaccine since it is a live vaccine and that is always contraindicated with pred.

And frankly - if your GP is offering you this year's flu jag at this stage of the winter he's a bit out of touch! It isn't working for the majority of flu cases because the main vaccine in it has mutated - ask him for a good justification.

"He predicts regular flare ups of my PMR." - you will only have regular flares ups of your PMR if your GP tries to force you to reduce the dose of pred too fast or too far. That has been acknowledged as the main reason for flares. Many doctors try to reduce patients' doses far too fast and/or in too big steps. It can only lead to trouble - then they try to tell the patient they are "steroid resistant" or want them to take other drugs like methotrexate to reduce the dose. It is the fault of the doctor, not the drug and not of the patient.

[Hidden]

Thank you for your prompt replies, I must admit I was not convinced when he 'advised'. I have been getting the annual flu jag and the next combo advised is for 2015 winter.

[piglette]

The flu vaccine is nothing to do with the fact that the GPs get paid for the number of people they can talk into having a jab is it? In a conversation I had with the GP they were more interested in my drinking and smoking habits for some questionnaire which gave them payment incentives rather than my PMR which presumably did not.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I don't think you are far wrong in your suspicion piglette! Some of the stories I hear really make my hair curl - and it isn't just GPs with a lack of interest in their patients and fixed and in some cases dangerous ideas about therapies.

[Zoesquare1]

I can't believe any physician would recommend a live vaccine to someone on steroids.

[DeliaGray]

I live in San Francisco, and my DR. recommended both a flu shot and shingles shot. I received both in October, having been on prednisone for GCA since last July. I felt no ill effects from either. In the U.S. the flu shots are given from October on into the Spring.

[Asbeck]

Also remember that the flu vaccine taken as nose spray is more dangerous for people on steroids than the flu shot. The flu shot is all dead virae. I'm not sure about the nose spray. For some reason I think that the spray has some live virae. Put PMRpro would know.