Shingles vaccination

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

I know this has been the subject of previous posts, but, as it did not concern me at the time, I paid no attention to the replies!

Anyway, yesterday I was told by a nurse in our surgery that I am now the right age for the shingles vaccination - I am 78.

Are there likely to be any problems bearing in mind I am currently on 3mg daily of Prednisolone?

Thanks

Paddy

[SheffieldJane]

If you look to the right of your screen Paddy, you will be able to access the debate.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

So long as you check it’s the new Shingrix vaccine and not the previous Zostavax that’s on offer.

I was offered one last year (Zostavax) and declined - nobody’s mentioned it this year - had Flu jab yesterday.

[Charlie1boy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady for your quick reply.

Paddy

[Joaclp]

Just to confirm what DorsetLady said. I had Zostavax in 2015 and got a bad case of shingles 6 months later. I will probably agree to the newer Shingrix eventually, since I worry about reinfection. Earlier posts probably say something about the issue of live vaccine and pred and also about the makers of Zostavax having to make some sort of public apology. Hope I didn't get that wrong.

[Charlie1boy]

My goodness me! I would not have been a happy bunny to get a dose of shingles after having had the vaccination.

Anyway, I do now feel better informed of the issues, so thank you for taking the trouble to reply.

Paddy

[Hidden in reply to Charlie1boy]

I was told it wouldn't stop shingles but lesson the aftermath. Wish I hadn't had the injection, had no health issues before.

[Charlie1boy in reply to Hidden]

Not exactly straightforward then! Thank you for your reply.

Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There is still some debate about the advisability of Shingrix in patients with an autoimmune disorder as while it has been tested in all sorts of group it hasn't been tested in patients with a/i disorders. It stimulates the immune system strongly and some fear this may not do a/i patients a lot of good.

Personally I would not be keen on the Zostavax vaccine since one of its listed adverse effects is PMR! And it can actually trigger shingles...

[Charlie1boy in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply. Not quite sure what I'm going to do now! At least I know definitely not to have the Zostavax. Guess I'll leave it for a while and see what my GP has to say.

Paddy

[HeronNS]

Zostavax is only about 50% effective and loses it's effectiveness over a few years although it's supposed to be a once in a lifetime shot. Shingrix has an effectiveness of something like 97% and loses its effectiveness more slowly, at least for the few years it's been available. However my husband (not a PMR sufferer) has just had his second of the two required Shingrix shots. He said he felt worse with the second one than he did with the first. Very much like having the flu. It lasted a couple of days. I haven't had either as there's no evidence I ever had chicken pox in the first place and I wouldn't let hubby get Zostavax in case it put me at risk, being a live vaccine.

[Joaclp in reply to HeronNS]

My husband just had a Shingrex shot --afterwards he had a rash on both arms and felt flu-like for week. He takes no meds and is healthy, though he did have shingles some years ago.

[HeronNS in reply to Joaclp]

I'll tell my husband he got off easy then!

[Joaclp in reply to HeronNS]

My husband usually does what the doctor tells him, so I'm sure he will have the second shot in a year. I still have post-herpetic neuralgia in my face and eye socket where the shingles struck. I'm inclined to blame the Zostavax, but maybe my bout would have been even worse without it. 😊Hope your husband stays well.

[HeronNS in reply to Joaclp]

I think the second shot is supposed to happen sooner. cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingl...

[Joaclp in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks.

[HeronNS in reply to Joaclp]

I bet your husband won't be happy to learn that.

[yogabonnie in reply to Joaclp]

My husband had it a few days ago, and I declined.. he had sore arm and flu symptoms for 2 days. Supposedly fairly comment. I do NOT want that. Think I will risk it for the next year or two.. until I am off the prednisone. I did have the other one (Zoro) so perhaps I'll be in the 50%.

[HeronNS in reply to yogabonnie]

I think the consensus is even if the vaccine doesn't prevent shingles altogether it does mean any attack is likely to be much milder and short lived.

[Charlie1boy in reply to HeronNS]

Yes Heron, so it seems. Thank you again.

Paddy

[HeronNS in reply to Joaclp]

I did tell hubby about your husband's experience and he did look relieved he hadn't had to deal with that. Second shot safely under his belt now so I guess that's it for him!

[Charlie1boy in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks Heron for your reply. Feel I'm in a bit of a dilemma now. I definitely have no wish to have shingles, so may end up with the Shingrix shot.

Thanks again

Paddy

[karools16]

On 10 Sept, I had a Zostavax shingles vaccination. I did ask about Shingrix, but they said Z was what they were using.Wonder why you had to wait until 78 to have it done? Here, in Norfolk, it's available aged 70 to 80.I only had a bit of itchiness for 3 days,otherwise fine. I had chicken-pox twice. Once as a child and again in my thirties.I would hate to have shingles. Have met people with it and the pain and discomfort..............

[Telian in reply to karools16]

Does that mean if you've had chicken pox you still need the vaccine?

[karools16 in reply to Telian]

Don't know.

[yogabonnie in reply to Telian]

If you have had chicken pox you need the shingles vaccine. If you have NOT had chicken pox you need the chicken pox vaccine !

[Charlie1boy in reply to yogabonnie]

Well, that's an interesting reply. I have had chickenpox very many years ago, and subsequently a minor bout of shingles about 50 years ago.

Seems I would be best advised to give it a go.

Thank you for your input.

Paddy

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

You can only develop shingles IF you have had CP previously. You don't catch shingles, it is a reawakening of dormant virus left in nerve endings after a bout of CP.

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

Looks as if I should get it but don’t want to.

[Charlie1boy in reply to karools16]

Thank you for your reply karools16. As with myself, I just hope you don't get shingles.

Paddy