Is it safe to have Shingles jab?

[Attic]

Hi everyone, have now been off Pred for six months after having Pmr for nearly seven years.

I have been offered a shingles jab, but am reluctant to have it in case my immune system is still low, or it causes pmr to rear it's ugly head again

Could I have advice please.

Thank you, Jenny x

[Bcol]

Hi, I'm sure others will be along but it's not recommended if you have a weakened immune system.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Personally I wouldn’t, in fact I’ve declined it twice since my GCA went into remission in 2016, and it’s now on my records.

Have just check NHS site to confirm what vaccine they are using - see below - and it’s still Zostavax - which is a live vaccine -

What is the brand name of the shingles vaccine?

The brand name of the shingles vaccine given in the UK is Zostavax. It can be given at any time of the year.

In the patient information leaflet (PIL) for Zostavax is used to say that as a rare side effect it may trigger PMR, but it doesn’t anymore - not 100% sure why ......whether they have changed formula or not enough reports of adverse effects?

This is link to PIL if you want to read it -

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

It’s your choice of course, so get as much info as you can before you decide.

[Attic in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady and PMRpro for your help.

I should have gone for the injection this morning, but have decided not to have it.

I am in UK so it would be the live vaccine, which I have been dubious about all along.

Even though my Pmr has gone it is lovely to still have the Forum to fall back on.

Jenny x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

WHICH shingles jab? You are in the UK so I assume it is the original Zostavax.

This is a question that comes up regularly and here are links to two posts I did some years ago.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

If it were me, I would be very reluctant - 7 years of PMR is enough for anyone!