Shingles Vaccine

[NY65912]

Since I turned 65 I have been told that I should receive a Shingles Vaccine.

Have you had one and if so, any reaction?

I just had the enhanced senior flu shot with a little arm pain and fatigue but all good 24 hrs later.

What say yoose?

[Sooner or later]

Yes, yes, no.

[MBAtarga]

Wife and I both intend to get the vaccine shots. You know it's really two actual shots a few months apart right?

[NY65912]

Yes, the doc explained. I have the pneumonia and need a booster. I'll get 2 out of 3 at the same time.

I don't have the whooping cough vac, but my wife does. Is it important?

[masraum]

There's a big thread on this from some time in the last year. Lots of posters here have had it. There's two versions of the shingles vaccine, and the new one is supposed to be much better than the old one. It's a two part vaccine that I think is done weeks apart.

[masraum]

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html

Two shingles vaccines are licensed and recommended in the United States. Zoster vaccine live (ZVL, Zostavax) has been used since 2006, and recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) has been used since 2017, and is recommended as the preferred shingles vaccine.

Zostavax will no longer be sold in the United States starting July 1, 2020. Some pharmacies and clinics may still have Zostavax in stock. This vaccine is safe and may be used until the supply expires (before or by November 18, 2020).

[recycled sixtie]

I had the shingles vaccine with no reaction. Well worth it. My fil had the shingles about fifteen years ago. He got it around the stomach area and it was very uncomfortable and painful.

[masraum]

Here's the other thread, 89 posts.
You old guys get Shingles vaccinations?

[masraum]

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html

What Everyone Should Know about Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)

Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles. CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), separated by 2 to 6 months, to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.

Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Two doses of Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Protection stays above 85% for at least the first four years after you get vaccinated. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavaxź (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Zostavax may still be used to prevent shingles in healthy adults 60 years and older. For example, you could use Zostavax if a person is allergic to Shingrix, prefers Zostavax, or requests immediate vaccination and Shingrix is unavailable.
Who Should Get Shingrix?

Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you

had shingles
received Zostavax
are not sure if you had chickenpox

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

If you had shingles in the past, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.

You can get Shingrix whether or not you remember having had chickenpox in the past. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans 40 years and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having the disease. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.

If you had Zostavax in the recent past, you should wait at least eight weeks before getting Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix.

Shingrix is available in doctor’s offices and pharmacies. To find doctor’s offices or pharmacies near you that offer the vaccine, visit HealthMap Vaccine Finderexternal icon.

If you have questions about Shingrix, talk with your healthcare provider.
Vaccine for Those 50 Years and Older

Shingrix reduces the risk of shingles and PHN by more than 90% in people 50 and older. CDC recommends the vaccine for healthy adults 50 and older.
Don't wait, vaccinate. Learn about shingles.

Who Should Not Get Shingrix?

You should not get Shingrix if you:

have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix
tested negative for immunity to varicella zoster virus. If you test negative, you should get chickenpox vaccine.
currently have shingles
currently are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get Shingrix.

If you have a minor acute (starts suddenly) illness, such as a cold, you may get Shingrix. But if you have a moderate or severe acute illness, you should usually wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

The side effects of the Shingrix are temporary, and usually last 2 to 3 days. While you may experience pain for a few days after getting Shingrix, the pain will be less severe than having shingles and the complications from the disease.

How Well Does Shingrix Work?

Two doses of Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles.

In adults 50 to 69 years old who got two doses, Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles; among adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 91% effective.
In adults 50 to 69 years old who got two doses, Shingrix was 91% effective in preventing PHN; among adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 89% effective.

Shingrix protection remained high (more than 85%) in people 70 years and older throughout the four years following vaccination. Since your risk of shingles and PHN increases as you get older, it is important to have strong protection against shingles in your older years.
Top of Page
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Shingrix?

Studies show that Shingrix is safe. The vaccine helps your body create a strong defense against shingles. As a result, you are likely to have temporary side effects from getting the shots. The side effects may affect your ability to do normal daily activities for 2 to 3 days.

Most people got a sore arm with mild or moderate pain after getting Shingrix, and some also had redness and swelling where they got the shot. Some people felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. About 1 out of 6 people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days. Side effects were more common in younger people.

You might have a reaction to the first or second dose of Shingrix, or both doses. If you experience side effects, you may choose to take over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

If you experience side effects from Shingrix, you should report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS websiteexternal icon, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

If you have any questions about side effects from Shingrix, talk with your doctor.

The shingles vaccine does not contain thimerosal (a preservative containing mercury).

[NY65912]

Thanks Steve,

I knew I should have searched first. My wife is worried about a reaction. She get a reaction to vaccines.

Thanks again!

[Cajundaddy]

Got the vaccine this year. The 1st dose seriously wiped me out for 24 hrs. I felt like I just ran a marathon and was pretty uncomfortable. The 2nd dose had no negative effects. I expect feeling miserable for 1 day beats feeling miserable every day for 2 years. Would do it again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles

[LWJ]

Yes.

Made me sicker than heck. Both times.

I hope that was my immune system working.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Got the vaccine this year. The 1st dose seriously wiped me out for 24 hrs. I felt like I just ran a marathon and was pretty uncomfortable. The 2nd dose had no negative effects. I expect feeling miserable for 1 day beats feeling miserable every day for 2 years. Would do it again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingles

Originally Posted by LWJ

Yes.

Made me sicker than heck. Both times.

I hope that was my immune system working.

Yep, it's better than going blind.

[vash]

i got one 1 week after i turned 50. i watched a friend get it..and it was awful.

i asked my doc and she pulled a dose out of a drawer and stuck me right there.

no side affects at all. i remember the shot site being sore..been a few year.s

my sister has it now..(shingles). i asked her why she didnt get the vaccine and she asked, "vaccine?"..trust me, she wish she got that vaccine. i think it is on her neck.

[NY65912]

Oi vey!

[MRM]

I just had the first shot. My left arm at the injection site was sore for about three or four days. It was worse than a flu shot. It felt a lot like I bumped something and bruised my muscle. It was a little worse than I anticipated but nothing that would have prevented me from doing it, even if I knew. My understanding is that my reaction was an outlier in terms of reaction and even then it wasn’t so bad.

[GH85Carrera]

I had the single dose shingles shot several years ago. Now the shot is a two part, so two shots several weeks apart.

My wife and I went in and did the first shot each. We go back after 6 weeks as I remember. We did it at the pharmacy we use. They are storing the second dose for us.

A few hours after the injection it does make for a sore arm. That just lasted for a couple of days and was gone. Having seen the suffering my mom went through, I don't want shingles! She said it was way worse than childbirth.

[vash]

my mom wields childbirth like a sword of guilt..

you dont find that tactic in the GOOD mother handbook.

[Hugh R]

Had one, no reactions, no discomfort. Had it with a bunch of other ones for pneumonia, hepatitis and others when we filmed in the alleys of downtown Los Angeles.

[fintstone]

Wife and I had both injections. Much like a flu shot. No real symptoms, maybe a little headache/low grade fever.

I would not wait until 65. Everyone I know that has gotten shingles, did so in their late fifties or early sixties...and it was really bad.