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Off topic question~ Shingles Shot?

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Posted 12/2/2012 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone know of this shot? …and any information you can share about it. I was getting my scripts filled and a farmer was in at Walgreens getting one. I'm interested in it as well…and know a few that have had the shingles…and report it to be very painful to deal with. Just another health problem I do not need in my life.

Thank you in advance!

SE
Posted 12/2/2012 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
I think it's absolutely recommended for those 60 and over...although it's approved people from 50 to 59....

Anyone who has already had Chickenpox when they were young is susceptible to getting Shingles as it is a "reactivation" of that same virus.

People who should NOT get the vaccine are those who are allegic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin..

Or those who have a weakened immune system like with HIV/AIDS or lymphoma or leukemia.

Anyone receiving immune system-supressing drugs like steroids, Humira, Remicade, Enbrel or any radiation or chemotherapy.

Or anyone pregnant or wanting to get pregnant..


It's just like the flu vaccine in that it isn't fail proof.....and people need to check with their insurance to see if it is covered...

But if it is...then it's something that many Drs. will recommend for those in the age group or are worried about contracting it.
Posted 12/3/2012 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Snowy!….I was also told that it may reduce the chance of getting the Shingles again by 50 percent, so it is not a total guarantee that a person will not get the Shingles again. I was also told that if you do get the shot and happen to get the Shingles…that the pain may be reduced a great deal since you have had the shot.

I appreciate the added information! Thanks!

SE
Posted 12/3/2012 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yes...I think if it is covered by insurance or someone can swing the cost and is in the targeted age group...(50 an over) that it's a good thing to have done to lower the risk of getting it as we know from members on here...it is absolutely awful!
Posted 12/3/2012 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I got the shingles vaccination about six weeks ago or so at the VA, it was offered, and anything that will decrease the chances of getting shingles is ( to me) worth while getting. When I worked on Onco allot of the patients that were on chemo and or radiation, their immune systems were lowered and compromised, and their bodies were stressed, they often came down with the shingles! It is definitely not something I would want to get, besides being painful they can also be dangerous, and can cause permanent disability especially if you have it on your face and it goes into your brain!   Also you can not get shingles with out having had chicken pox, but if you have never had the chicken pox and are around someone with shingles then you can get the chicken pox from them. I know that nurses that had not had the chicken pox and had not had the vaccination for it, were not allow allowed to be around patients with shingles, and if we had any pregnant nurse she was definitely not suppose to be around the patient with shingles period!.  So that would be just another reason to have the shingles vaccination, to prevent getting them and possibly giving some one else  the chicken pox.

 

White Beard

Posted 12/3/2012 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
..very good information White Beard….Thank you for sharing! I had never heard of the shot before speaking to this man, but as soon as he told me about it, I became very interested. It's one thing to suffer from Chronic Pain, which is bad enough in itself…but then the possibility of adding another very painful condition would be way more than a person would want. And those suffering with Fibro…would be like WOW!

Something to ponder!

SE
Posted 12/3/2012 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
SE i hadn't heard of either, untill when I was at the VA for a prescription refill check, and they offered it to me, and said they were incouraging all the vets to get them. They told me it was not a hundred percent but even if I did still get the shingles it would not be as bad. Well I am a firm believer in vaccinations, being in the military so long they were required, you did not have a choice, and we were vaccinated for allot of things that most people are not, especially if you were going to southeast asia back in the 60's and 70's. Anyway and then when I retired, and went into nursing, well you learn all about, that stuff, and most hospital requires their medical staff especially the nurses to have all the vaccinations, heck even the nursing school require you to have them before you could do your clinicals. Anyway  as I previously said , I am a firm believer in them, and  of course I also get my flu shot every year. LOL

 

Oh yes one more thing Welcome back!

 

White Beard

Posted 12/3/2012 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
The shingles shot is relatively new. But I'm not sure why it wouldn't work better than 50% of the time... We know what virus causes chicken pox.

I know why flu vaccines don't always work. They can only pick 3 of the strains most likely to spread that year, and have those vaccines in place by flu season, so it's a bit like forecasting the weather, almost a year ahead to allow for manufacturing and distribution time.
Posted 12/4/2012 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
My oncologist told me outright, not to take the shot. The nurse at Wal-Mart where I got my free flu shot also told me not to take the shingles shot. So I am not sure what the correct criteria is for needing one.

david
Posted 12/4/2012 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
…we had my mother in-law over for supper tonight, and served smoked meatloaf, baked potatoes…and grilled yellow squash. I asked her if she had heard about this shot, and it just so happens that her Dr suggested that she get one. By the way,…I have the same Dr. He told her that she will not like the shingles one least bit, because he has had them and said it was very painful.

…so I think I will give him a call and see if I should get one. There are a few things to look at before getting one, so I have provided a link here for those of you that may be interested.

Thank you all who have provided input on this little known and seldom talked about topic!

www.webmd.com/vaccines/features/shingles-vaccine-for-adults

www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles-vaccine/AN01738

SE
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