Shingles vaccine

Having suffered a nasty bout of shingles 3 years ago I`m v. keen to avoid a repeat, according to the (totally illogical) NHS rules at 66 I don't qualify but owing to my medical history my GP decided, after some persuasion, that I do.

I`m fully in favour of vaccinations, side effects sometimes occur but I`ll accept that as an alternative to getting full-blown illness, seems perfectly sensible. However, having had the shingles vaccine yesterday morning I spent the rest of the day feeling progressively worse, mild fever symptoms, headache, general aching and feeling pretty knackered. 24hrs earlier I was out running, did a brisk 25 minutes before going out socialising, felt on top of the world, this morning I`m feeling a bit better but nowhere near well enough to go to the gym or run etc.........vaccine's knocked me from hero to zero!

My advice to anyone who's having the vaccine is to plan it accordingly, expect to have a couple of days doing not very much, if you feel like me you really won't want to!

I had the pneumococcal and shingles vaccinations about a month ago. One in each arm.

The shingles jab is the only vaccination that I have had over the years that knocked me sideways. I felt groggy and had inflammation at the site of the injection for a few days.

That said I did forget to take a couple of paracetamol straight after the jabs, something that I have done after the Covid and flu jabs.

Another jab at least two months after the first is required to complete the course.

The qualifying age threshold (other than for those with medical conditions considered as higher risk) was reduced from 70 to 65 from 1 September 2023. However those already 65 at that date don’t qualify until the NHS do a catch up process.

Had shingles couple of times and not badly affected - will probably give the vaccine a miss until I’m perhaps older.

I've had the 2 Shingles jabs now. Both knocked me for 6.
At least that's it for life now.

maseman

I had shingles a few years ago. While it was pretty grim and I missed my best mate’s wedding where I was his best man, I’ll take my chances without the vaccine.

Chances of developing shingles are fairly low and how long is the vaccine actually viable after taking?

I had a very mild bout of shingles a couple of years ago. The rash near my ankle was completely manageable but the pain along the sciatic nerve, while not acute was deep enough to really affect your sleep. And here is what I discovered : with most joint pains we usually manage to find a position where the discomfort goes away; not with shingles, as it’s not the joint but the nerve. You’ll might then regret the lifestyle choice of not having the vaccine. All I’ll say is that I’ll be 65 in early July and I ‘ll be vaccinated by Bastille day with at least one of them. Having said that my best friend is a now retired) GP in France and he mentioned anew vaccine (a 3rd one) that was coming and that showed a significant improvement in terms of efficiency so we’ll see in a few months.

Didn’t know there were 2 vaccines, is it pot-luck what we’re given (NHS) and which is preferred?

I've never had shingles but I had the vaccine and it affected me more than I imagined it would.

It can knock you for six but at least it's done now.

I had both the pneumococcal and shingles vaccinations in January - one in each arm.
I agree with the shingles one knocking you for 6 - felt rough, sore arm for a couple of days. This is the only vaccination I’ve had a reaction to, having had the full complement of Covid ones etc over the last few years.
The second part of the shingles vaccination is booked for June - now not looking forward to it but having seen the outbreak my father had on his face I’m happy to suffer for a day or two.

Jake

I tried to get vaccinated when the new round was announced for 1958, apparently because I'm born befor September I have to wait five years, you couldn't make it up

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Originally Posted by adrianw

I tried to get vaccinated when the new round was announced for 1958, apparently because I'm born befor September I have to wait five years, you couldn't make it up

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Yes, same here, absolutely ridiculous

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Originally Posted by Onelasttime

I had shingles a few years ago. While it was pretty grim and I missed my best mate’s wedding where I was his best man, I’ll take my chances without the vaccine.

Chances of developing shingles are fairly low and how long is the vaccine actually viable after taking?

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Shingles is more common as you get older, and more severe. Plus the chance of developing post herpetic neuralgia increases if you get it when you are older. PHN is a really lousy condition involving ongoing and often severe nerve pain. I have to wait until my 70th birthday for my first jab but will definitely be signing up as soon as I can.

More info here: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2018/04/24...te-against-it/

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Originally Posted by adrianw

I tried to get vaccinated when the new round was announced for 1958, apparently because I'm born befor September I have to wait five years, you couldn't make it up

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Agree, there's no logic in it whatsoever. I argued the case with my GP surgery based on previous medical history and the fact I`d had shingles 3 years ago and been quite ill, they did a U turn and phoned me with an appointment to get jabbed. Didn't get an explanation and couldn't be bothered asking, despite the unpleasant side effects (which are now subsiding) I'm glad I got it done although I`m not looking forward to the follow-up jab if the effects are similar.

Apart from being a very uncomfortable experience, shingles can cause permanent nerve damage and discomfort (post-herpatic neuralgia), definitely best avoided and on that basis I would recommend having the vaccine if available.

The fact you've never had shingles doesn`t mean you won't get it, almost everyone's had chickenpox so they carry the virus and it can flare up in later life.

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Originally Posted by walkerwek1958

Agree, there's no logic in it whatsoever. I argued the case with my GP surgery based on previous medical history and the fact I`d had shingles 3 years ago and been quite ill, they did a U turn and phoned me with an appointment to get jabbed. Didn't get an explanation and couldn't be bothered asking, despite the unpleasant side effects (which are now subsiding) I'm glad I got it done although I`m not looking forward to the follow-up jab if the effects are similar.

Apart from being a very uncomfortable experience, shingles can cause permanent nerve damage and discomfort (post-herpatic neuralgia), definitely best avoided and on that basis I would recommend having the vaccine if available.

The fact you've never had shingles doesn`t mean you won't get it, almost everyone's had chickenpox so they carry the virus and it can flare up in later life.

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I've considered paying for it, £450 seems to be the price

Shingles-jabbed last year. Never batted an eyelid. No side effects.

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Originally Posted by JonRA

Shingles is more common as you get older, and more severe. Plus the chance of developing post herpetic neuralgia increases if you get it when you are older. PHN is a really lousy condition involving ongoing and often severe nerve pain. I have to wait until my 70th birthday for my first jab but will definitely be signing up as soon as I can.

More info here: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2018/04/24...te-against-it/

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I have a few years left before I'm eligible.

Funny that 76 and 77 year olds aren't eligible. I'm sure there's a good reason.

Here in NL you have to pay for the Shingles vaccination at the moment ( 2x Shingrix), but I get 85% reimbursed through work.
Had No 1 before Xmas, sore arm for a week, and due to have the 2nd one in a couple of weeks.

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Originally Posted by adrianw

I've considered paying for it, £450 seems to be the price

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Is it available privately?

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

Is it available privately?

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https://healthclinics.superdrug.com/...s-vaccination/

https://www.boots.com/online/pharmac...nation-service

As per posts above . SWMBO and I had our two jabs this year - the second last Tuesday.

Both of us had sore arms for a few days and felt a bit "groggy" the next day, Mrs S slept if off - I did not have that luxury but worked from home until lunchtime as I didn't want to drive in the morning

I've never been bothered by any other vaccines so would echo the sound advice above - i.e. not to plan doing anything too strenuous the day after a shingles jab

JP

As of about 6-7 years ago, SHINGRIX became the "go to" vaccine.

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Originally Posted by adrianw

https://healthclinics.superdrug.com/...s-vaccination/

https://www.boots.com/online/pharmac...nation-service

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Thanks, my Google fu was weak.

The computer screen lit up like a slot machine when I went for my jab, shingles, pneumococcal, flu and covid. My arms ached but didn’t know which one to put it down too.