chicken pox

[Ana-16]

I would appreciate advice on chicken pox I had chicken pox as an adult when my children got it. I have also had a shingles vaccine. My grandson is just recovering and we’re waiting to see if his sister catches it. I’m on 5mg prednisone and we’re wondering if I should still be careful and stay clear until the incubation period is over. Many thanks in advance

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think there is a fair bit about it in FAQs.

However, safer is obviously not to risk it. It is difficult to know whether you would develop shingles - and other things can trigger it anyway. If you were to develop shingles, make sure you get to the GP for antivirals quickly. If you were to be in contact with the child in the days immediately before and after the rash appearing, I would contact the GP then and have the prescription to hand at home just in case.

[Ana-16 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will follow your advice

[YummyBear]

Shingles occurs when the virus that's already in your body reactivates, so one cannot catch shingles. However, since the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles are the same, if a person who has never had chickenpox comes into direct contact with the blisters of someone with shingles, they may get chickenpox. Hope this helps!ps. I had vaccine at 71. Got Shingles at 72 and again aged 76, the most ghastly painful condition ever. I was out of action for 4 weeks. I'm aiming to have another vaccine next year.

[Ana-16 in reply to YummyBear]

Thanks for the information. Really useful. I thought that the shingles vaccine was a one off! I will try and speak to my dr. Try being the operative word!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ana-16]

Even the Zostavax vaccine is a single dose vaccine unless you had a different vaccine for health reasons, The Shingrix vaccine is a 2-dose course, a booster being given after a couple of months to develop the best protection.

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

but you don't need a repeat booster.

It is approved for immunocompromised patients like us but you have to get the GP to order it when you need it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

There is no requirement for a second shingles vaccine with Zostavax - unless you can persuade them to give you the better Shingrix vaccine which in itself is a 2-dose course.

nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinati...

It is available for immunosuppressed patients like us - but you have to get the UK GP to order it for you when you need it

[YummyBear in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for this info, it is a Godsend! I did read this on a site during isolating with acute Shingles but I did not save the details to a personal file to bring with me when I discuss with GP in 2023. I am so pleased that you kindly sent the link. I'm sticking my neck out now to say my GP will get this new vaccine for me, based on fact I've had Shingles twice, together with chest infections and a high ESR shows infection triggered by Shingles. It truly was a hellish time and I felt the nerve ending pain would last forever. As an aside, I fully recovered from Shingles, was given clean bill of health for cataract surgery, which was unsuccessful! Yet another saga to contend with!I am so grateful to you, blessings!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

Oh dear - what happened with the cataract op? They are usually very good.

[YummyBear]

Yes, I did too but learned in April from GP that I should have another vaccine in a year. I was shocked when I got the 1st bout of Shingles in 2018, 10 months after vaccine but to get Shingles a 2nd time (April 2022) was beyond belief. I was at home for 4 weeks, so as not to be risky to vulnerable folk; pregnant women, elderly folk who had never had chickenpox. I missed 2 family birthday parties for grandkids, two of whom hadn't had c/pox. My son would have liked his 2 kids to have caught c/pox from me having Shingles but they were going on hols. I was far too unwell to go to parties! In my case my immunity seems to be low, hence more chance that if I am run down, I will get it. Strange that I never got Covid!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YummyBear]

I assume that is the Shingrix version they are offering you then?

[Ana-16]

Many thanks again for the responses. This forum is an amazing resource with a wonderful personal touch.