Shingles Vaccine Questions

[Estellemac]

Is there an alternative to the live vaccine for Shingles?

Do you have to be off steroids for 6 weeks before you can have the live vaccine.

Can you have the alternative vaccine (if there is one) whilst on steroids?

Thanks and information is welcomed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

See this -and don’t be confused by title -there is a link to England info as well

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As of September there will only be one vaccine, the non-live Shingrix. All the bumpf in FAQs - as ever ...

[Estellemac in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[yogabonnie]

I just got my second shingrix vaccine. All went well. No reaction except for pain in arm. And that was no big deal! go for it. I understand Shingles is the WORST!

[PMR_sufferer1]

Shingles can be horrible but you need to balance the risk against taking any vaccine.If PMRpro is right its better the live vaccine in the UK has been stopped. Especially when you have auto immune issues.

When i had my last shingles jab I was warned (with as then the live vaccine) I may get shingles from it. I still had it done but my personal worry is the same year i had boosters for Covid and Flu.

A lot for the body /immune system to cope with in my opinion.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMR_sufferer1]

The company is no longer manufacturing Zostavax. The main reason it has been continued is that the Shingrix wasn't available in large enough quantities for all the state funded health services at once.

[NuttyR]

I’m just annoyed I will have to wait til I’m 70 as I’m 66. Seems unfair.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to NuttyR]

According to this you won’t have to wait -

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

If you’re not in England, Scotland is also in line - as the per the link I attached to my first reply…..

[NuttyR in reply to DorsetLady]

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Timetable for ages

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to NuttyR]

Think that’s what I implied.🤔

[NuttyR in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh ok I know from the chart that I don’t get it until I’m 70.

[NuttyR in reply to DorsetLady]

I’m going to contact a few people for clarification but the implementation chart I guess is quite clear sadly.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to NuttyR]

Can you just clarify what chart you are reading - the Immunocompetent cohort or the immune compromised cohort?

As you are still on steroids you fall into the immune compromised cohort - so this applies

Changes to eligibility

Immunocompromised cohort

Since September 2021, Shingrix® has been available to immunocompromised individuals aged 70 to 79 years, who are contraindicated to receive Zostavax®, as part of the NHS shingles vaccination programme.

The forthcoming change from 1 September 2023 will expand the eligibility to all immunocompromised individuals aged 50 years and over (with no upper age limit).

Immunocompromised individuals who have already received 2 doses of Shingrix® do not need re-vaccination.

Immunocompromised individuals represent the highest priority for vaccination given their risk of severe disease, and therefore the programme aims to catch up all immunocompromised individuals aged 50 years and over in the first year of the programme implementation.

The second dose should be given 8 weeks to 6 months after the first dose for this cohort, in line with the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).

[NuttyR in reply to DorsetLady]

Oh do I? Fabulous! I wasn’t sure. I am kind of hoping to be off the pred by then but going back up two doses now I’m seeing the end moving away! Thanks. That’s good news! I cared for a friend who had shingles end of January. I had read on the pred notes that I needed to avoid shingles so I had gloves and mask etc. I did get extreme tiredness plus tingling on one side of face for a few days but then I went. She however ended up in A&E as she had a seizure as she had a bad case, also contributed possibly by nerve pain relief. She’s still got pains one side of face going into her ear so I would like to avoid it if possible. Thanks for letting me know that I might get the vax. Cheered me up!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to NuttyR]

Don’t be any rush to get off steroids - especially if you’ve just had to increase..

I know it’s a pain and a cliche -but it takes as long as it takes…

[NuttyR in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes thank you I am definitely heeding your warning and taking more control myself rather than the hospital doctor cheers

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NuttyR]

Being in contact with shingles is not as bad as chicken pox if you haven't had CP. YOu cannot catch shingles - you only get shingles if you have had CP in the past. It depends then how intimate your caring was - you COULD catch CP if you were in contact with the fluid in the shingles blisters which does have some virus in it.

Apparently the fuss is because many people say they have not had CP in earlier life. If shingles is going to develop, it wasn't because you were in contact with it - but the stress of extra caring duties might not help.

[NuttyR in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Yes the blisters were horrible and my GP warned me about that. I was cooking and washing up plus some laundry. Mainly trying to get her to drink and eat as she would have slept all day and night otherwise. I had no idea how very painful it could be hence I would be very grateful if I could get the vax. So let’s see how long that takes.🤞

[humlies]

I certainly didn't come off steroids for 6 weeks before having the shingles vaccine; I didn't take pred. on the day I had the vaccine but that was all. I was perhaps lucky, but I had no side effects at all.