Shingles Vaccine?
 

I am wondering if you have goten the Shingles Vaccine and what your doctor may have told you regarding whether you should or should not get it.

I was reading about this recently and am thinking about things like this as I approach retirement. I did have a mild case of chicken pox in my early teens. I have been told that this makes me a good candidate for getting Shingles as I get older.

Your thoughts?

-KB

Consider it seriously. We have been witness to several people suffering very VERY badly with shingles. The shot is encouraged for all people over sixty. It made my arm sore but Sweetie didn't have any reaction at all.

Unless your doctor has a reason for you to NOT get it....do not hesitate....we got ours a couple of years back and it was no more reaction than a flu shot = none.

btk

Some of my neighbors had shingles and it was not pretty. My insurance paid for the shot so I got it. I have a few years before Medicare kicks in and I understand they will not pay for it. Check with your insurance company. I think it is expensive if you self pay around $250.00.

That's good information on the insurance and medicare, thanks.

But to be honest, if getting the Shingles is anything like my friend has experienced, I would pony up the $250 in a heartbeat. Heck if I could afford it I would be tempted to pay $1k to avoid that kind of lingering pain if that is what it cost. Yowza!

These posts already have convinced me getting this shot is the way to go. I have my annual physical coming up and this is a topic I will discuss with the Doc.

Thanks for the input. I can always relly on TOTV members to chime in quickly.

Im a nurse and let me tell you I have seen some very nasty cases of shingles. i just got mine this week my are got a little red nothing more. I glad for the peace of mind I now have:a040:

I just got mine this past week too. When I was thinking about it and heard the following, I didn't hesitate any longer:
It's the best money you will spend (to get the shot) because if you end up getting the shingles, you would spend millions of dollars without hesitation to get rid of it!
Scared me for sure. But glad I got the shot.

4 of us got the shingles shot about 7 years ago. One of us (my brother's wife) still contracted shingles. Her case was not severe.
It's only about 51% effective so I guess we could say we beat the odds.
But we would still do it again.
The vaccine needs to be kept at a proper temperature (cold but not sure of the temp) or it might not be effective.
AND...if you get shingles in your eyes you can go blind.

I bugged my doctor about the proper handling of the vaccine before he gave me the shot so as to hope he gets it right and it was handled correctly.

More info here: Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Shingles/Shingles (Herpes zoster) Vaccination: What You Need to Know

Bob

Skipped golf with the boys today because I have shingles. So, thought of brousing TOTV and came upon this post. Had to reply. Went to dermatologist a few days back because I had rash like or pimple like symptoms both in my back and front. When it started to become painful and itchy, went to see the doctor and was told I have shingles. Couldn't believe him as I had the shot only last October. I only found out now that it is not full proof. You still can get it. Having been taking pills for a few days and will continue to do so for another week. The pill probably is working as the rash or pimples have not spread and pain seem to be subsiding. I would highly recommend taking the shot as I was told that had I not taken the shot, the pain would have been ten times worth. I shudder at the thought.

What if you have already had shingles..............does the shot help the second time around or does it stop the second time?

Capecodbob is correct. You can get the injection but it is no guarantee. I had a bad case of the shingles and it is not pleasant. However I have not to this date secure the shingles injection.
My wife and I did get the injection for pneumonia. The injection is good for 5 years. so last year we asked for the injection again and were told that it was not recommended for anyone 65 and older ???????????????????

I read the link from capecodbob and in that link it did state that it would help you NOT get the Shingles again but that the vaccine is about a 50/50 proposition.

If you get the shot for shingles and do happen to get the shingles anyway, it is a much milder case of shingles. Since I have seen family members with shingles in the past it was worth it to me to get the shot. A milder case is better than a full blown case!

I had the shingles shot last year. No reaction. Medicare paid for it. I had chicken pox when I was 32 (caught it from my children) so I was very worried about getting shingles. I've been getting the flu shot every Oct. for years and have not had flu. Hope the shingles shot works as well.

Whether or not the shot is paid for by Medicare depends on the type of insurance that you have. I have an Advantage Program which did pay for it. My friend has traditional Medicare with a supplemental. His supplemental paid for it. Talk to your insurance carrier.

Here is the information from the Center for Disease Control
 

I can tell you that the pain is so great from shingles that it made my friends blood pressure go up so high that at Urgent Care they thought she was having a heart attack. That is not all. It can last for months and sometimes, years. Please read information below;

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Shingles/Shingles (Herpes zoster) Vaccination: What You Need to Know

Check the local health dept. I had mine done in collier county and they only charged $25.00 it is a very good idea to get the shot.

I too had the shot mid-2012. Got the shingles about Oct 1 2013.
Mild case started with itching. I saw no reason for 2 days. Then the rash appeared. Got to the doctor who prescribed the anti-viral. The rash subsided quickly but the itching remains tho' less and less all the time.

I had the shingles and didn't have the shot and it was really bad pain. I since go the shot and got the shingles again and had almost no pain with them this time. So I'm glad I had the shot.
PP

I had the shingles vaccine in November and got shingles in January, It is not 100% effective. You can still get shingles! Ended up with a paralyzed facial nerve and I'm still waiting for it to get better!

Use your own judgement to decide if it's right for you.

shingles shot
 

I turned 60 in August and the first thing I did was go to get my shingle shot. My Dr. said to wait on it because they are finding people are getting the shot and then coming down with shingles and they do not know if there is any connection with the shot. I must tell you I am not comfortable with this because my greataunt and my mom both suffered from shingles. I am glad that I read all your posts and may rethink the shot.

I've had shingles twice. I was very lucky both times because I recognized the symptoms. I was treated and given medication within 24 hours. I was told that early detection is key in limiting the severity of the virus.

Bogie, in answer to your question ...... my family doctor has now recommended the shingles shot. She says it will either prevent a third episode, or lessen the severity.

DO NOT HESITATE to get it especially if you are over 60, my hubby had it on his butt cheek and it ran down his sciatica. He could not work for over 3 months he was that debilitated. He now has nerve damage in his leg. The outbreak happened over a year ago and he still has pain from it. His leg/foot will go numb at times and can make him fall..IT IS NOTHING THAT YOU EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT GETTING

get the shot~

I've heard that you must have a doctor's order to get the Shingles vaccine. My doctor does not recommend the vaccine and so I haven't gotten it. Can you get the vaccine on your own?

I did. At Walgreen's

I don't believe you need an order from your physician to get the shot. You can obtain it at local pharmacies. However, the bigger issue is why are you staying with a doctor who ignores the wisdom of every national organization that deals with vaccines (except chiropractors and some other non-allopathic fields). There is some concern with efficacy as mentioned by others above. It is not 100% effective with preventing shingles. It will lower your risk of shingles by about 50% and lowers the risk of severe pain with shingles by even more. It would make we wonder about the ability of your doctor to keep up to date and evaluate medical literature. Of course I might be wrong and there is some obscure reason why s/he does not recommend it for you specifically.

The only thought I would add at this point is that the duration of protection is unknown. The older you are when you receive a vaccination the less of a response you get. Additionally your natural immunity from having had chicken pox is fading. I think you will be hearing future recommendations for a booster dose of the shingles vaccine perhaps every 10 years.

Our doctor highly recommended it, The Centers for Disease Control recommend it so that was enough for both of us to get the shot at Walgreens.

I got my shingles vaccine over a year ago.

From memory, one doctor told me that if you don't get the vaccine, your chances of getting shingles is 3 out of 100. If you get the vaccine, your chances will be 2 out of 100. So I guess I didn't gain much by getting the vaccine but I got it anyway. If I do get shingles it will be less severe than if I didn't get the vaccine.

Here's one thing that may or may not be of help. I know someone who got shingles and was told that it came on because of a stressful situation. Stress can weaken your immune system so be careful of that.

Mu uncle got the shingles in his nineties. A WWII veteran who never complained about anything until he got a ncase of shingles. It was extremely painful to him for several years.

IMHO - The shingles vaccine is very well worth the risk to avoid a case of the shingles.

Interesting. I went to the Walgreens on Parr Rd. They said I had to have a prescription.

Wait. Did we have to have a prescription? Maybe we did.

I just called Publix Pharmacy and you DO need a prescription for the Shingles Vaccine.

I think many of us have relatives who make up statistics on the fly to support their position. According to the CDC one out of three people over 60will develop shingles. Maybe your memory or your physician's memory is somewhat dated?

George