NHS shingles vaccine will be offered to almost one million more people

[Floridafan]

I’m not sure whether this has been mentioned already (I did check) but as I just found this recently elsewhere thought it might be of interest to those of us who have not been eligible for the vaccine yet.

england.nhs.uk/2023/07/nhs-....

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Yes it has -but as it was contained in a whole raft of GP changes -it probably wasn’t obvious -and I added to a query about shingles.

I will ask Fran_Benson to add to the shingles information in the FAQs -thanks for spotting it!

[scats]

I have been pestering my practice for the Shingrex vaccine for a while now. They have always refused because I take less than 10mg of pred. On Tuesday I spoke to a different doctor and was told to ask again after September because that will be used as standard then. The GP was very sympathetic and said singles would be nasty on pred and could understand my concerns

[Floridafan]

Having re-read the NHS information a couple of times I have realised that they are giving the vaccines when patients reach 65 or 70. As I am 67 at present I will have to wait another 3 years to be called for the vaccine unless I am severely immunosuppressed which, at a dose of 2mg Prednisolone, I don’t think I am. I have decided that I shall still ask for it early though and see what happens.

I’m still thankful for the change, even if I have to wait 3 years and hopefully will not be taking Pred anymore, because I would have been worried about having the live vaccine. So well done NHS 😀

[pink123floyd]

Morning all I dont post often but do read every day having read this link Floridanfan i disagree that shingles can not be caught from other people , my nephew young daughter had chicken pox but he had never had it untill he caught it off his little girl which in adult for is shingles but unfortunatly cost him his life and he past away a couple of weeks after catching it, don't know if that makes sence appoligies if it doesnt as i have dysaria and find it hard to put things into words.xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to pink123floyd]

I'm so sorry to hear of the death of your nephew - please accept my deep sympathy.

Your post makes sense, perfectly understandable.

However, shingles CANNOT be "caught" - it is NOT the same as CP although it is the same virus. It IS possible for an adult to catch CP if they haven't had it as a child and then, as you have so tragically found, it can be a very serious illness, even fatal. Singles is a reactivation of that virus from its dormant state in specific nerves - which is why it appears in quite limited places on the body whereas CP spots can be anywhere in the body.

[lonelysunrise in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, that's right, PMRpro. Adults can catch CP from a CP sufferer but not Shingles. My friend's 40 year old son caught CP a few years ago and ended up in hospital, very poorly. I had a terrible case of Shingles nearly 20 years ago (left hand side of face and head, including eye). I became a "Telephone Buddy" for other sufferers - no Healthunlocked then! Shingles can be truly horrible so advise all my friends to get the vaccine if possible and after consulting GP.

[pink123floyd in reply to PMRpro]

Thank for the reply and sending deepest sympathy to my family.x

[Broseley]

I had CP very mildly as a child, then shingles, also quite mildly, when I was 21. Could I get shingles again?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Yes - shingles can happen repeatedly, that is why you should get the Shingrix vaccine which is very effective at reducing the likelihood. You only get CP once.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks

[Poshcards]

also my nurse who gave me my two shigrix jabs said after September all jabs will not be live ones, so everybody will get two jabs x