Shingrix vaccine long term studies - good protection for 4 -7 years

[PMRpro]

I thought you would be interested in this article about how effective the SHingrix vaccine is, even when you are on corticosteroids.

medscape.com/viewarticle/sh...

"... people who received two doses of the vaccine, regardless of when they received their second dose, experienced 79% vaccine effectiveness (VE) during the first year, with effectiveness decreasing to 73% by year 4. By contrast, the rate of effectiveness during the first year was 70% for people who received a single dose, falling to 52% effectiveness by year 4.

The findings also showed that the rate of effectiveness was 65% for those taking corticosteroids.

The CDC currently recommends two doses of RZV separated by 2-6 months for patients aged 50 years and older. Adults older than 19 years who are immunocompromised should receive two doses of RZV separated by 1-2 months,"

Other longerterm studies show that it is still effective after 7 years.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Worth adding to Shingles FAQs methinks..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I think so

[piglette]

They don’t mention that the efficacy of the vaccine seems to decrease with age. In UK it is not given to anyone older than 79 much to the disgust of an 80 year old friend of mine!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I suspect she could have it privately. The UK has some strange ideas. I must ring and ask if I can have mine - no silly "only immediately after your 70th birthday" guff here!! The idea a date or birthday dictates medical events is so laughable ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

She can but she doesn’t want to spend the money! Ridiculous as she can afford it.

They say “The vaccine's effect diminishes with age, therefore people aged 80 or older aren't eligible to receive the vaccine.”

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Aye well, the effect of shingles doesn't diminish with age! I assume I have missed my window of opportunity in the UK ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

The NHS have got an incredibly complex system for anyone under 70 too for the vaccine.

“From 1 September 2023, you're eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 65. If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, you'll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.”

Basically if you were 65 on 31 August 2023 you cannot have the vaccine for five years, but if you have you 65th birthday on 1 September 2023 you can have the vaccine now!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Nuts - I shall make sure it is done here! And since I am now heading for 72, would I get one at all?

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Theoretically yes, but as the GPs are about to go on strike along with everyone else, you may be 80 before you get to the front of the queue!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Is this aversion therapy for me even thinking about returning to the UK?

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

We don’t think here any more. The nanny state thinks for us!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Wrong - the nanny state DOESN'T think ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Perhaps that is where I made my mistake, I thought it did!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

A nanny state may think. This one doesn't ...

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Methinks it's all about money as usual.....whn we reach a certain age we aren't worth spending on....

[random901 in reply to Longtimer]

Yep. Same for cervical and breast screening!

[Longtimer in reply to random901]

Quite agree, booked my own breast screening last year, not good enough!

[Iamfedup in reply to PMRpro]

I am 72 and just had mine after requesting it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Iamfedup]

Yes, but where are you (you don't say on your bio). Depends on the country.

[JGBH in reply to piglette]

Yes… it’s the fobbing off system, I’m afraid. No logical approach, making rules as they go along. One wonders who does actually decide on such matters.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JGBH]

Larry?????

[JGBH in reply to PMRpro]

🤣 Larry the cat…. Why not!

[Highlandtiger in reply to piglette]

Different in Scotland. If you were 65 (but not e.g. 64 or 66) on 1 September 2023 then you’re eligible for the current Shingrix vaccination round.

[piglette in reply to Highlandtiger]

I think that is the same in England and Wales as Scotland. You're eligible for the free shingles vaccine if you were aged 65 or 70 on 1 September 2023. This excludes people who were aged 66 to 69 on this date.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Which is the bit that is crackers ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Or nuts even!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

All it needs is an aperol spritz ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

You can even get Aperol Spritz gummies!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

But they won't have bubbles ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Good point but neither does wine or cognac

[Highlandtiger in reply to piglette]

Not sure it is the same, or maybe I’ve misunderstood what you posted…

“From 1 September 2023, you're eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 65. If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, you'll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.”

That suggests to me that you’re eligible if you turn 65 anytime on or after 1 September 2023. In Scotland it’s if you are 65 years of age as at 1 September 2023. So if your 65th birthday fell anytime between 2 September 2022 and 1 September 2023. My 65th birthday was in February 2023 (therefore before 1 September 2023) and I’m eligible now whereas going by the bit you quoted I wouldn’t have been eligible until 70 if I lived in England.

Anyway, I got mine last week so I don’t need to worry! Just wanted to clarify in case it affects anyone else who lives in Scotland.

[piglette in reply to Highlandtiger]

Sorry I was just pointing out, as an example, that a younger person could get the vaccine before an older person. The rules are the same for all Great Britain. Obviously confusing everyone. I should have quoted the whole government recommendation. ‘You're eligible for the free shingles vaccine if you were aged 65 or 70 on 1 September 2023. This excludes people who were aged 66 to 69 on this date.’ It is the same rule for all Great Britain. Also it does not necessarily apply to anyone who is compromised.

[Waves2 in reply to piglette]

There is an exception for the immunocompromised. Once I mentioned this to my surgery I was given the 1st vaccine last week age 66. Worth asking the question.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Waves2]

Doesn't apply to me - I live in Italy.

[Grammy80 in reply to piglette]

Wow...Piglette....glad I don't have to wrap my head around that math~!💞

[piglette in reply to Grammy80]

It is totally mad. I assume there is method in their madness!!

[Indigo2417 in reply to PMRpro]

In April 2022, after I’d had my bout of shingles, I made enquiries about a private jab. I wasn’t eligible on the NHS then. Boots were doing them at a branch about 60 miles from me, so it would have meant two 120 miles round trip and would have cost me £450. At the time, I thought I’d got about 18 months before I was eligible on the NHS, so I thought I’d wait. The surgery told me I’d have about a year’s immunity after the shingles that I’d had. By August 2023 I’d got PMR, but even after Rheumatologist advised getting the jab, I was initially told I couldn’t have it at 69, I’d have to wait until 70. As per what Piglette quoted. I queried that, as I’ve got PMR, and was then given my first jab in November. Getting the next one next week. You do get the impression that after a certain age its not considered worthwhile spending the money on you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

I don't think the "year's immunity after shingles" is necessarily correct - I remember someone (not with PMR) saying their doctor said they had to wait a year after shingles to get the jab (also not correct) but they kept having another episode. All bets are off for people with autoimmune diseases.

[Indigo2417 in reply to PMRpro]

I just went by what I’d been told by the surgery. At that time, I was 68 and couldn’t have one until I was 70. By the time the age restriction had changed, I’d got PMR. Was first told I couldn’t have it until 70, even though the restriction had been changed, but I persisted and someone must have realised that I was eligible after all because of the PMR. Relieved that I’m having the jab now anyway. Just need the second one next week.

[Grammy80 in reply to Indigo2417]

.....that isn't confined to the UK....the insurance companies in the States get that attitude too. However, if you contact your insurance company personally (if you have been denied a test, for example) and very 'nicely tell them that should any ill befall you, your next step will be to hold them legally liable' .....they come around.💞

[Grammy80 in reply to piglette]

That is a shame...I had them at 80~! I remember when my gynecologist of several years told me at age 65 they 'could no longer' see me because they did not take Medicare patients (States). Funny....I've never seen an expiration date on me anywhere!!! 💞

[piglette in reply to Grammy80]

My mother always used to say she had reached her sell by date. She also used to say when you get to my age you don’t buy green bananas!

[5lupins in reply to piglette]

This made me laugh out loud to myself. Good old Mum.

Thanks.

[piglette in reply to 5lupins]

On a holiday in Austria we were walking up a mountain and it was getting hotter and hotter. My mother said ‘it is getting hotter because we are nearer the sun!’ The scientific community really missed out not having my mother amongst them!

[5lupins in reply to piglette]

Maybe we all did 🤗

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

She wasn't all wrong though - the air is thinner and you do get more heat from the sun. But in Austria it could have been a temperature inversion - was warmer up the mountain today than down here.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

We hadn’t climbed that high, just a few feet!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

No doubt SHE was hotter ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

It was a hot day!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

AND she was walking uphill - and I bet she lives about sea level? Not much of Austria is at sea level!!!!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

We were actually sitting down near the bottom of a hill having a picnic! It was a gloriously hot day though. She often came up with comments like that. One was ‘no one is going to use the internet, none of my friends do!!’

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Yeah, well ,,,

Mind you - I am at the bottom of a hill. But live at 850m which is a bit lower than Helvellyn

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I must admit when I visited Mexico City I was with our Finance Manager from Argentina who was a smoker and she had real trouble breathing.

[Grammy80]

Great information....I'm set to get my second shot this month.💞

[Predderman2020 in reply to Grammy80]

me too. I play in a band of (zimmer frame) rockers and the other guitarist got shingles 3 years ago and had to be put in an induced coma for 2 months. Terrifying. He still has pain, and fatigue. Lucky to survive. He is 73. Unvaccinated.

[Grammy80 in reply to Predderman2020]

Poor soul...they can be relentless. They were all over the side of my face, on both lids of my good eye, in my mouth and up my nose. That may be a bit too much info...or an inducement to get vaccinated. My physician supplied me with Lidocaine lotion, thank heaven~!💞

[Predderman2020 in reply to Grammy80]

God - you suffered. I never realised how horrific this could be. Now MMR is in the headlines with surging cases of non-vaxed children and similarly increasing incidences of deafness etc.. Had the second Shingrix - side effects much worse with second dose. - prob a good thing!

[Grammy80 in reply to Predderman2020]

Yes, I've got to get that second dose next week. Thanks for the info, so far I have had no reaction to anything....but I'll brace myself. Soooo much better than shingles!!💞

[SudsSuds]

I recently asked my GP if I was eligible for the shingles vaccination. She arranged an appointment for me but then I received a call to say I was not eligible. I am 67 so did not qualify on age. Also I did not qualify because I have not had more than 10mg of pred for four weeks in the last four months (or something like that). That is according to The Green Book. When I said I had had 10mg of pred in that period the nurse said she would ask the GP for a prescription which would then allow me to have it. Waiting at the moment.

[Predderman2020 in reply to SudsSuds]

NHS spends all this money and time on public service alerts drawing us in ... and then denies us. I am leukopenic - borderline, but it seems to freak them out enough to put the green book to one side. It seems to help them pick the right box.

[loomweaver]

I had my shingles vac last week and am having another in 8 weeks time, and will be 80 do you think they will say I am too old by then, ha ha!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to loomweaver]

Not once they have started!! The article I linked shows how important the second dose is.

[pata63]

This is a timely thread. I had my first Shingrix vaccine 6 months ago and am reminded that it is time for the second. Must call my GP now that everybody is back from summer break at the beach. 😎

The rules here are as peculiar as they are in the UK. You have to be "exactly" 65 years old to get it for free. The rules may well be changing because they way they implemented this was clumsy and created holes for certain age groups. I was exactly 65 years old for one day in mid 2017, the system started in 2018. Do they hire lawyers to write these regulations rather than qualified medical practitioners? 😉

pharmac.govt.nz/medicine-fu...

For reasons I don't understand I got my first one for free anyway just 6 months ago. The funding system only started in 2018, and there was a window to catch up with people (like me) who were now older then exactly 65 in 2018, but that window closed at 31-Dec-2021. The health system and I were a tad busy with Covid pandemics lockdowns during most of the window. I was also on a high enough dose of prednisone to count as immunocompromised for part of the catch up window. I no longer count as immunocompromised today (the NZ rules on that are also slightly different from the UK rules). We'll see if I have to pay for the second one. It depends on which set of complex yet overlapping rules they use. That is way beyond my understanding.

[Predderman2020 in reply to pata63]

Good luck - from all the posts above avoiding Shingles has become one of my priorities!