Anti-shingles jab

[Marcy47]

My medical centre are offering anti-shingles jab to 70-78 yr old patients. Anyone know if it is a live or dead vaccine?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Live. Not recommended for anyone with weakened immune system or on oral steroids!

[SheffieldJane]

If you look to the right of your screen you will see that a conversation took place about 10 months ago with PMRPro's input on this topic. It seems to say that it is not very effective in older people. Not sure if it is live vaccine, which of course we avoid. Someone will know.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Live, theoretically OK with low doses of pred - but one of the listed adverse effects (by the manufacturer Merck) is PMR. Which I think says it all.

Add to that the fact is is not particularly effective in older patients, working best in patients at about 60, I personally don't think it is worth it.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[El50]

El50 That is interesting. I was not that PMR was a listed adverse effect of the Shingles injection.. Funnily enough I developed PMR a few months after having the Shingles and Flu' jab given at the same time.

[Polylinc in reply to El50]

Hi E150

So did I, within 5 days of the jab !!!

When challenged about the involvement of the jab, of course my GP denied its involvement ...

Avoid at all costs is my advice x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Polylinc]

I wonder if they EVER read the small print?

[Polylinc in reply to PMRpro]

I guess not ...

unfortunately to the loss of our previous good health

[El50 in reply to Polylinc]

I agree. I definitely wish that i had given this jab a miss.

[El50]

Sorry --that should have been not aware !!

[Marcy47]

Thanks for all your replies. I will definitely give it a miss, especially as I am still suffering from Sciatica. Been to a Bowen Practitioner which didn't seem to help, 3 visits to a private physio who has helped a bit, now been given an NHS appt with a physio (after waiting since May!) See what happens on Monday, that's the day the builder starts work on our extension too, happy days!

[mega]

Thank you Marcimay for your question and, of course , to the replies to it. I also received an 'invitation' for an anti-shingles jab. I am 78, been on steroids for well over six years for GCA and seem to have reached stagnation point at 5mgs of Pred. but with many of the nasty effects still present.

Perhaps the surgery, after I'd crawled to a taxi at my gate, staggered up all the steps at said surgery with my stick and discussed it with a nurse/doc, they would have said I wasn't suitable - I don't think I've even had chicken-pox. Then done the reverse journey £8 lighter and totally energyless, for nothing.

Surely the possible 'rejects' either shouldn't receive the letter or there should be more info contained in it. None of them are robust young striplings, after all.

I'm grateful, once more, to the community of this forum.

[Marcy47 in reply to mega]

Glad it's been of help to you mega. Think there needs to be more communication between different departments in the NHS. Or is that just wishful thinking?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mega]

It's a generic invitation - to all of a given age group. It would take time and, hence, a lot of money to tailor the offer more appropriately. It's an approach that is evil IMHO - put statins in the water sort of approach...

[mega in reply to PMRpro]

I'm sure you're right, PMRpro. I have little faith in NHS economists and none at all in the sharing of info regarding patients' conditions.

The postage alone for this sort of blanket campaign must cost a fortune, though, and I'd be interested to see the outcomes and the effectiveness of some of them.

A big notice in the surgery for a couple of months, done on the in-house computer or verbal notification via the GP or nurse, would reach most of the age group they're targeting with this one - there aren't many 70 to 78-year-olds who don't need to visit a surgery over a couple of months' period.

I suppose I would label it outrageous incompetence.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to mega]

Not to mention the fact that it really doesn't work particularly well in that age group! Works best (it is said) in late 50s and early 60s.

[mega in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I've read that too PMRpro but had forgotten it. Ancient's memory!

Nevertheless, it's a nice little earner, I'm sure, for the GPs who can administer it to their willing volunteers whether it works or not.

Sorry, I get more sceptical the older I get.

[Marcy47]

Saw my Dr this morning re Sciatica. Mentioned the anti-shingles jab, she said not to have it, could give me shingles!!!