Shingles Vaccination

[jamesnan]

My husband has been offered a shingles vaccination. We have never heard of this before and therefore don't know of anyone who has had it done. What do people think, is it worth having it done? or are the side effects not worth it.

[Sqad]

Yes...........I would have it..........shingles is nasty in the elderly.

Side effects?....maybe, but not off putting.

[atalanta]

A friend of mine nearly lost the sight of one eye with shingles. Take the opportunity.

[Obiter]

I caught shingles at the age of 36 and have never felt so poorly in my life, eiter before or since. Fortunately they cleared up after 3 weeks. My doctor at the time told me that there was no treatment apart from camomile lotion to lessen the pain. I must confess that I have never heard of a vaccine against them. Having had shingles once, can you catch them again? Perhaps Sqad will advise.

[Peter Pedant]

does it work?
well yeah apparently - from cdc usa
Vaccine Efficacy
In a clinical trial involving more than 38,000 adults 60 years of age or older, the vaccine reduced the overall incidence of shingles by 51% and the incidence of PHN by 67%. The efficacy of the vaccine in preventing shingles was higher in the younger age group (60-69 years; vaccine efficacy was 64%) than in the older age group (older than 70 years; vaccine efficacy was 38%).
Studies are ongoing to assess the duration of protection from one dose of zoster vaccine and the need, if any, for booster doses.

[Peter Pedant]

and he should have it now
odd age for offering

70, 78 and 79 ( y of age) and not above and below
so say yes or he could easily lose out

[janbee]

My local GP surgery offers it every year to the over 70s. I'm not in that bracket yet, but one day... I'll certainly take it when the time comes. My aunt had shingles and lost her sight. She never fully recovered from it. So, take up the offer. You may regret doing so but you'll regret it far more if you don't. xx

[Sqad]

Obiter

\\\\ Having had shingles once, can you catch them again? Perhaps Sqad will advise.\\\

Yes.

[Obiter]

Thank you Sqad. A lot of Old Wives' Tales surround medical conditions. One I was told was that if you had had chicken pox would couldn't catch shingles. Clearly not so. Another was that if the rash ever forms a complete circle round the body then you die.

[Sqad]

\\\\Another was that if the rash ever forms a complete circle round the body then you die.\\\\

LOL.....I have always liked that one.

My grandma always said that if you sat on cold stones, you got piles.

[quinie]

Hi,janbee,I understood it was only people aged 70 ,78 or 79 who were being offered the vaccine -not if you're 71-77. Shingles is really nasty with often pain for some time afterwards. I would certainly accept an offer but I'm too old!

[quinie]

My granny said the same,Sqad lol.My mother had shingles and was an inch off the dreaded circle!!They had some quaint sayings.