Shingles jab

[tgca]

Just a quick question..my surgery has suggested that the shingles jab (live) is ok on a prednisone dose of 4 mgs... thoughts please !

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Been some discussion previously - look at posts in right hand side - particularly Shingles vaccination or not

This is a bit more info about shingles -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Your choice, but you need the Shingrix one, if available.

Ps I rejected offer after GCA remission - not been asked since!

[yogabonnie in reply to DorsetLady]

I dont think I would do it. Husband had the jab two times and both times bad symptoms of the flu. I feel a bit like PMR is ENOUGH. (course Shingles is really bad! ) but read all you can and decide. either way...good luck!!! (I was NO HELP! sorry!=

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A listed adverse effect is polymyalgia rheumatica!!! Not to mention triggering shingles itself. If Merck admit something it is probably to be taken seriously!

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Hi took my first ever shingles shot two and a half years ago and got PMR just a while later. Not sure if connected but if I had to do it over. I would decline as I had every time the Dr suggested it before. They say there is a new non live shingles vaccine now. Maybe that one is better...I would suggest doing a little research first

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Some autoimmune experts are concerned that the new vaccine may over-stimulate the immune systems of people with a/i disorders - and it hasn't been tested in them. No proof - just suspicions on the basis of the claimed high activity of the vaccine.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

So does that mean that the shot (or as others say"jab") I took could have made me start this PMR journey?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

I think the live one we talk about - Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), did have somewhere in the paperwork that PMR could be an issue.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Possibly it could have been the final insult to your immune system that made it go haywire. To be fair, it could have been developing shingles, like getting either the flu or the flu vaccination, or any other stress on the immune system could have done it. There is no way of knowing for sure which it was.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

And it may have been an unlucky combination of a UTI gone sepsis whereby I spent 3 days hospitalized then not too long after received the shingles vaccine. I would imagine my immune system was compromised by the UTI and that left an opening for the PMR to rear it's ugly head?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Could well have been - any one bit may have been no problem. All together - totally different ball game

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

You are definitely the voice of reason

[Robinsnest72 in reply to Hidden]

I got the shingles vaccine and three weeks later developed PMR. I firmly believe it was brought on from the vaccine

[Hidden in reply to Robinsnest72]

I have to say I have been suspicious of the very same thing.

[Luciejc in reply to Hidden]

I am convinced that my second Shingles vaccination triggered my Giant Cell Ateritis.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Luciejc]

If you had a second shot - does that mean you had the Shingrix vaccine rather than the Zostavax one?

[Luciejc in reply to PMRpro]

I had the Zostavax vaccination e years ago but my eye doctor pushed the new Shingrix because of my glaucoma. First shot OK, second, fever, flu symptoms, GCA diagnosis.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Luciejc]

I hope you have made sure that an adverse event report has been submitted. That is the only way they get true figures for adverse events post marketing.

You are in the US I assume? That is a report to the FDA - not sure how it is done.

In the UK it would be what is called "Yellow card" report which can be done by GPs, pharmacists and even the patient themselves. I have heard GPs saying it doesn't need to be done for something they already know is a possibility - but you do to get more accurate figures. Something that only appeared in a few patients in clinical trials may turn out to be common once the stuff is being used in hundreds of thousands of patients across the world.

[diana1998 in reply to Hidden]

Pmr happened to me too after shingles jab. I bitterly regretted having it as my life has changed completely🙄I tell all my friends. "don't touch it".

[Hidden in reply to diana1998]

I can see why you are cautious but as pmrpro often says.... The jab could have been the final insult to YOUR immune system. I think mine was kicked about or a while, and I do believe I have those viking genes.....I had shingles twice in my 20s and 30s.My gran went blind in one eye with shingles and never had a sense of smell or taste thereafter as it was the entire side of her face.

P. S. there is an non live vaccoince that doesn't have the same warnings.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Possibly only because it hasn't shown up yet - it takes a few years of reports to identify such a trend.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Yes agree. I will had a yet to that final sentence!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Tbh... Wish it was me who lost my sense of smell visiting her. 😬👃

[Luciejc in reply to PMRpro]

YES!!

[Luciejc in reply to PMRpro]

YES!!

[diana1998 in reply to Hidden]

Well hope at least I never catch the shingles now although my mother had it very mildly luckily at 93.

[Hidden in reply to diana1998]

Horrible to get shingles at 93. After chickenpox and 2 bouts of shingles I hope I am covered right there with you.

[diana1998 in reply to Hidden]

😊

[diana1998 in reply to Hidden]

But not life threatening. It's very bad luck to get it badly. I know lots of folk who've had it mildly. My son had it down one side of his face aged 10!

[Hidden in reply to diana1998]

Bless him. It is amazing for me how many of us switch into the if it doesnt kill you.... Frame of mind once chronic illness hits.

[Needhamite]

My GP, who is knowledgable on PMR, said that I could have the shingles jzb as I was down to 5mg. No side effecrs at all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Needhamite]

Whether it is OK while still on pred is a different consideration - it is said any dose under 20mg is safe in that sense. How the immune system in someone with PMR will respond though is another question.

[tgca in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for all the advice kind people but I forgot to say I am a GCA person, as opposed to PMR on 4 mgs pred... does the diagnosis make a difference re anti shingles jab ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tgca]

The disease process is probably the same for both - PMR can be a symptom of GCA for about half of patients.

[tgca in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you very much... I'll stick to a no for me. I wish all GPs and rheumies would join this site!

[GratefulBailey]

I participated in a Vasculitis webinar yesterday presented by Dr. Kenneth Warrington (Chair, Division of Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic) ... the recommendation regarding the shingles shot was no live vaccine (the “old” single shot one) but the newer 2 dose Shingrix one was ok.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GratefulBailey]

They think ...

[Scarter770]

I got PMR shortly after a shingles shot. Your decision but I wouldn’t do it if it were me.

[hillela]

I recently had the 2-dose new shingles vaccine with no ill effects except a bit of soreness at the site of the shot. I was on 10 mg. pred. at the time of the 2nd shot, and again, I'm not aware of any bad reaction. Shingles can be a total misery. I know a woman who had it years ago and still suffers extreme post-shingles pain. I guess you have to weigh your options -- a tough decision. I didn't know PMR/GCA had been implicated as possibly caused by the vaccine, but I don't regret having the shots.

[Peptink]

After reading all the replies here, I realize now that my PMR symptoms started after I received my shingles vaccine about 6 years ago. I was only recently diagnosed back in December. Coincidence? I think not. I’m antivax in a lot of cases, but, thought this one would be very beneficial. Now, I really believe it was not.

[Pmrmolly2018]

I had shingles 5 years ago. I was advised by my surgery that shingles jab due in Oct 2017. Had this to ‘double protect’. At beginning of 2018 started to be fatigued, difficulty in coping and lots of pain. May 2018 diagnosed with PMR. Coincidence?

[Dubler]

My dr wants me to have it but wants me down to 8mg before they will give it to you. Also only the Shingrix because it is a dead virus