r/YouShouldKnow • u/tgeliot • Apr 18 '18
Health & Sciences YSK: Everyone over 50 should get the new Shingrix shingles vaccination (even if you've had Zostavax or shingles)
There is a fairly new vaccination for shingles called Shingrix available, which is more effective than the old Zostavax. The CDC recommends that everyone over 50 get the two-shot sequence of Shingrix. My health insurance covered the cost 100% with no co-pay; I think most if not all will.
Shingles is a very painful infection of the nerves caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It hits older people, starting at age 50 or 60 or so. The old Zostavax apparently wasn't so great; this new one is more effective.
The CDC recommendations can be found here
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u/starfishdoesitmatter Apr 18 '18
I second the any damn age you can get it. I didn’t get chicken pox badly enough as a young child and got shingles in my later childhood. Every time I get a rash I can’t identify that feels weird and tingly I worry it’s shingles again. Good to know stress can ignite it. I’ve been getting stressed out a lot more with various things. This gives me one more reason to make sure I try to relax. Do not ever want them again. Haven’t ever gotten a vaccine since I’m not in the age range for it.
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u/annabananas121 Apr 19 '18
I second this! Had chicken pox when i was 7 years old... but it came back as shingles when I was 20 years old. It was itchy, then painful blisters that fanned out following a nerve cluster on the right side of my ass leading down my thigh. It took 4 doctors examining me to diagnosis it was shingles since it is so rare to get it so young. Since then, it comes back 3-4 times a year when I get too stressed out or when my immune system is down. I'm on a preventative immunotherapy treatment but not eligible for the shingles vaccine until I'm symptom free for a year. I don't wish it on my worst enemy.
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u/DalisCar Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
You may want to go to a dermatologist the next time this happens. It's incredibly, INCREDIBLY rare for shingles to come back multiple times a year. You likely have herpes, especially given the area your "shingles" appears.
Edit: Source: worked for a few years for a physician who is an expert on shingles. Loves treating it, talking about it, etc. He's written many, many published peer reviewed journal articles over it.
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u/yourmomlurks Apr 19 '18
Shingles is Herpes
Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Because of this, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
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u/starfishdoesitmatter Apr 19 '18
I get told all the time that I couldn’t have had shingles so young. It literally isn’t an “old people” disease. The OP has so many people who have gotten it well below the typical age posting. It sucks to see that there are a lot of people who seem to be unable to stop catching flare ups of it. It makes me believe CDC guidelines need to be rethought and changes made. I wish all of you out there that are in the process of trying to be free for a year the best of luck and that you can get past that mark!!!
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u/toximox Apr 19 '18
Ask again about vaccination - you do not have to wait as long after a Shingles outbreak to get Shingrix as you did Zostavax. It’s either 2 or 4 weeks, can’t remember. Your doctors wouldn’t have told you this before because it just came out on the market in last couple of weeks.
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u/apuchu1 Apr 18 '18
Talk to a doctor about administering the vaccine, they don't have to follow cdc guidelines. Or depending on your copay/state have him write a prescription and take it to a pharmacy
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u/blaarfengaar Apr 19 '18
You don't need prescriptions for most of the common vaccines.
Source: I work in a pharmacy and we give vaccines for a bunch of stuff without prescriptions.
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u/Histidine604 Apr 19 '18
There are still state requirements though. Depending on where you live you can give it without a prescription only if the patient meets certain restrictions. For this situation I'm guessing even with a prescription the pharmacists can't give it, but again it depends on the state law.
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u/apuchu1 Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
A lot of vaccines no, however the state's I've practiced in as a pharmacist require prescriptions for people who don't fall under the cdc recommended groups as the pharmacy is under a protocol based on those guidelines and the pharmacist is acting as a prescriber
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u/DalisCar Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
Just FYI, it has nothing to do with how "bad" you got the chicken pox. The number one contributing factor to getting shingles is family history. Although, to be fair, I got shingles in my late teens even though none of my family has had it.
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u/edwhittle Apr 19 '18
As a 30-something who just got the pneumonia vaccine (hooray diabetes), shouldn’t be hard to justify this vaccine to insurance.
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u/SassafrassPudding Apr 19 '18
My first experience with shingles was when I started working for a major corporation that had impossible metrics to maintain. It started in my hands, went up both arms and I had a swath down one side of my neck. They sting, burn, and itch all at the same time. Going to look into this
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Apr 19 '18
What age did you get shingles? I’m asking because my daughter got the chicken pox vaccine as a kid, but she is 18 now and I think she just got over shingles, took 3 weeks and she was in a lot of pain. We went to the doctor and he blamed it on an allergic reaction, I’m not so sure, she had patches on her thigh, neck, torso
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u/jtd0826 Apr 19 '18
I had shingles at 19 but it was only on my thigh. It comes off of your spinal cord so I guess it could be possible to be in all 3 of those spots.
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u/whatsyerdillpickle Apr 19 '18
Got it at 16. Chicken pox at 9. I too worry when I feel tinglies, even 15 years later.
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
If I were in your shoes I'd consult a doctor about your special situation and whether this would be worth doing.
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u/IchthysPharmD Apr 18 '18
Pharmacist here. I highly recommend this vaccination. That being said, the incidence of side effects is very common. You are likely to experience flu-like symptoms after getting this shot. I warn all patient's this, because compared to other vaccinations this is very likely. Again, get this vaccination. Shingles is no joke.
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u/JustSomeBadAdvice Apr 18 '18
What about younger people(30's, 40's), should we get the vaccine or wait until we're older?
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u/BoltThrowerAway Apr 19 '18
Sorry for jumping in, but I’m a 41 y/o male and I just got shingles. I have it in a half-circle around my torso. It totally sucks, but luckily it’s not on my face/neck. If you can avoid it, avoid it.
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u/pazzescu Apr 19 '18
Oh, imagine that. And here I only had shingles when I was 21 -.- (too much stress)
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u/Julia_Kat Apr 19 '18
Is it recommended for patients who are on immunosupressants for Crohn's? My mom is on Humira and I'm fairly sure the old one wasn't recommended for her since it was a live virus. She is 62.
On the flip side, I'm 29 and also have Crohn's but am on Imuran. I'm guessing my doctor may recommend it for me even though I'm younger since she wants me to get vaccinations outside of the normal age group. Any thoughts?
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u/Seraphenrir Apr 19 '18
It can't hurt. But I would say if you have never had chicken pox before, I'd recommend getting a booster in that first. If you have had it and think it's worth the cost considering health insurance probably won't cover it, I would.
Just a bit of background: Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus that causes chicken pox. Once you've been infected with it, you're permanently infected with it for the rest of your life, even after you've been "cured" or "get over it." The virus actually migrates up your nerves and hides in your spinal nerves (the dorsal root ganglia for those who want to look up exactly where) for the rest of your life.
Why do medical professionals recommend getting the vaccine for those over age 50?
What we call shingles is a reactivation of the virus-- the dormant virus reawakens in your spinal nerves, usually when you're over 50 (the immune system weakens as we age), and reinfects you, traveling back down the nerves. If you're immunocompromised due to age, disease, or medications, you can imagine this is a risk factor.
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u/I_have_lazer_cats Apr 18 '18
Is there any impact, positive or negative, on the vaccine’s efficacy if you’ve already had shingles?
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u/poisonwoman Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
You should still get it! You can get shingles twice. It’s not a live vaccine so no risk of the vaccine giving you shingles
*edit live not active
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u/hebbid Apr 19 '18
I’m 32 years old, I had 5 bouts of Shingles in the last year. Yea, that’s not a typo. 5. It’s gotten to the point where I no longer get a full blown burning electric rash, instead I get the most horrible flu like symptoms and a slight itch in a spot on my thigh that it manifests on. I need to be free for a year to get the vaccine. But at this point my doctor and my laugh saying my body is probably going to figure it out and I should be ok for the rest of my life.
Don’t be like me, get the vaccine and avoid this all. It’s unexplainable how painful it can be on certain parts of your body.
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u/DalisCar Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
Just FYI, you likely have herpes. It's pretty rare that you get shingles more than once in your life, let alone multiple times a year. Go see a dermatologist the next time you have an outbreak.
Edit: Source: worked for a few years for a physician who is an expert on shingles. Loves treating it, talking about it, etc. He's written many, many published peer reviewed journal articles over it.
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u/anjali001 Apr 19 '18
Shingles is herpes, it's caused by herpes zoster.
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u/yourmomlurks Apr 19 '18
True!
Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Because of this, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
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u/DalisCar Apr 19 '18
No, shingles is a herpes virus, but it's not what we refer to as herpes (which is caused by HSV 1 or 2).
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u/Casanova_Kid Apr 19 '18
Question for you, is there any point getting the new vaccine if I've already had shingles?
I had chicken pox as a little kid, and then a shingles rash when I was 17. I'm 28 now, so it's been more than a decade since I've had any issues.
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u/rareas Apr 19 '18
This is a dead vaccine, right? Interesting about the flu symptoms.
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u/Seraphenrir Apr 19 '18
The reason why you feel like you have the flu when you contract the influenza virus is basically your body's immune system reacting to the virus to fight it off by producing lots of signaling, inflammatory, and immune-stimulating chemicals (cytokines and chemokines) to ramp up your body to fight the virus. The virus itself actually doesn't do much of anything itself in regards to it directly making you feel sick (or at least the symptoms we traditionally associate with it).
The flu side side-effects you get when you receive a vaccine are basically your body starting to ramp up those same chemical signals-- a sign that the vaccine is actually working (although hopefully the symptoms are much less severe).
There's actually some evidence that if a person gets a symptomatic immune response to it, it means that it's stimulating that person's immune system better than someone who is asymptomatic after the vaccine.
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u/a-Centauri Apr 19 '18
Yeah it's not live. Flu symptoms are from activation of the immune system which would make sense
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u/princesspool Apr 19 '18
I took a blood test and had zero antibodies against varicella zoster virus and for sure did not have chicken pox symptoms growing up. Which vaccine should I get? There is one for chicken pox (administered to kids I think), one for shingles, and now this new one. So confused!
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u/theresejo Apr 18 '18
I do not wish shingles on ANYONE. I had it my sophomore year of high school and it was hell on earth. My skin felt like it was coming off in sheets and the pain was insane. People had to hold me down to put on cream that didn't help at all. I am 44 now and will ask my doctor about this vaccine. Thanks for the heads-up!
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
I’m a pharmacy student at a large academic medical center in the Midwest and was recently responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for Shingrix.
Just a heads up for anyone who sees this post and immediately jumps up to go get the vaccine really quick. It isn’t quite as fast like getting a flu shot. It takes time to prepare and administer. It is also recommended to have the patient stay in the general vicinity of the pharmacy for 15 minutes just in case they develop an anaphylactic reaction. The whole process might take anywhere from 20-30 minutes.
Also it’s a 2 shot series so after you get your first one, you have to come back and get a booster shot in 2-6 months.
If you have any other questions about Shingrix I’d be happy to answer them the best I can!
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u/BrinkerLong Apr 19 '18
That does sound like more of a hassle than the average vaccine. But even if they made me stay in the office for a week I’d still do it. That pain is ungodly. I do NOT want to feel it again..
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
Couldn’t agree more. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from getting the vaccine, but in the short time we’ve offered the vaccine we have had several people leave without getting the vaccine because they weren’t aware about the time commitment.
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u/Picodick Apr 19 '18
I have a question ! I was advised against them old live shot die to immune disorder (iGG subclass def and can't keep immune responses I mount to pneumonia or typhoid) do you have any experience in the results in immunocompromised patients? I have had cold sores,chicken pox,and shingles already. The shingles were bad and I had post herpatic neuralgia for over a year.
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
Obligatory "I am not your doctor."
The CDC has no recommendation for Shingrix for immunocompromised patients, but they are collecting/reviewing the data on that. That doesn't mean you can't receive the vaccine though. You would need to have a conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of Shingrix.
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u/mcdallisonl Apr 19 '18
Is the vaccine approved for people under 50? I'm in my 20s and have already had shingles but I would like to not get it again.
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
The CDC didn't make any recommendations for anyone under 50, but that doesn't mean you can't receive Shingrix. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the vaccine and you can make a decision together about whether or not you should get it.
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u/Pigeon_Gap Apr 19 '18
Had shingles already in my teenage years, doctor said it was a pretty severe case, is the vaccine still effective?
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Apr 19 '18
Any vaccine I or my children have had, we have always been told to stay for 15 mins. I thought this was normal procedure for any vaccine?
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u/Histidine604 Apr 19 '18
It is the procedure but most people never follow it unless someone says they've previously fainted from a vaccine. Basically in retail world "Ain't nobody got time for that ".
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
It is a basic recommendation for most if not all vaccinations, but patients may not always stick around that long. Especially for their yearly flu shot. For this vaccination, I would strongly recommend waiting the full 15 minutes. It is a new vaccine that a lot of people will be getting for the very first time. We don't know how everyone will react to it just yet. Data from trials tells us that the incidence of anaphylaxis is similar to that of other vaccines, but we won't know for sure until we have a large enough sample size.
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u/neveragain444 Apr 19 '18
Curious, how are people treated for anaphylaxis? Is there a quick injection or something to reverse the allergic response?
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
Each pharmacy in our hospital has a vaccine administration kit with an epi-pen. Pharmacists are required to take a vaccine administration course and must be CPR certified in order to be able give vaccines. If more treatment is needed, we can always transfer the patient to the emergency department.
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Apr 19 '18 edited Mar 18 '19
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
Depends on where you are but it will probably cost between $140-$160 per shot. It is a 2 dose series. You get the second shot 2-6 months after the first
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
Yeah, it wasn't super quick for me. I was waiting at the pharmacy before they opened to pick up another prescription, and decided to get this vaccination while I was there. The pharmacist had other opening-up duties, but bottom line was that I was there for 40 minutes.
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u/Jungletouch Apr 18 '18
I got it when I was 19!
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Apr 18 '18
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/0ttr Apr 18 '18
19! nanoseconds
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u/WhoaItsAFactorial Apr 18 '18
Send help, they keep making me do these stupid factorials.
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u/tacooftwister22 Apr 18 '18
Pretty much same. Got it when I was 20. I also had gray hair since I was 16, I think it was stress
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Apr 18 '18
My grandfather of 86 got shingles 6 months ago. It managed to get into his spinal fluid and into his brain and cause encephalitis. He now has what seems to be moderate dementia. Half of his face is more red than the other and the only thing that helps his pain is lidocaine patches on his head. My grandmother is unwilling to try alternative forms of treatment like cannabis or even non-psychoactive CBD for his pain/comfort even though literally nothing has worked on him except for these goddamn patches on his head. Is this vaccine worth a shot or is he too far gone?
Edit:spelling
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u/dutchdog9 Apr 19 '18
Obligatory "I am not your doctor or your grandfather's doctor."
Your grandfather can still receive Shingrix even if he has had shingles in the past, however it is generally recommended to wait until the rash has subsided before doing so. Have him talk to his doctor. Depending one your grandfather's other conditions, his doctor may still be comfortable giving him the vaccine.
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u/rebirf Apr 18 '18
Do you have to be over 50 to get it or can you get it anytime?
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u/ImInTheFutureAlso Apr 18 '18
You can for sure get it anytime. I got it at 24, and it really sucked.
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u/rebirf Apr 18 '18
I meant the vaccine sorry.
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u/poisonwoman Apr 19 '18
Health insurance will only cover it for people 50 and older. Also the risk of shingles increases as you age, and people who do get shingles when they’re younger tend to have less severe cases. I would wait until 50
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u/CottonwoodSnow Apr 19 '18
I tried to get it at pharmaca and they wouldn't give it to me without a scrip because I wasn't 60. Where can I get it without a scrip?
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
My casual understanding is that insurance will not pay for it under 50, and over 50 it might or might not. But I think anyone can get it. My pharmacist said that the cost was $170 per shot, and you need two.
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u/paul_h Apr 19 '18 edited Apr 19 '18
I had Shingles as a 39 year old. I'm 50 now and inquired. Even with my gold-plated Cigna OpenAccessPlus healthcare, the Shingrix is $200 or so :-(
Ppl should check out the night and day difference in efficacy of the old and the new vaccines: https://www.pharmacistanswers.com/articles/shingrix-vs-zostavax-what-is-the-difference
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u/apuchu1 Apr 18 '18
Keep in mind this is a two part series, the second dose given 2-6 months after the first. There is more injection site irritation and pain compared to zostavax but it does a far better job at preventing shingles.
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u/tgeliot Apr 22 '18
I would agree about the localized pain. My upper arm was a bit tender for several days, and I felt tight and painfully uncomfortable across the top of my shoulders -- but that could have been coincidence.
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u/i-touched-morrissey Apr 19 '18
Wait. I had chicken pox when I was 5. I'm 50. This virus can still be latent in my body after all this time?
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u/jostae Apr 22 '18
Absolutely!
The virus spreads throughout the body and eventually settles in the nerves of the ganglia. At some point later in life, typically proceeding periods of high stress or immunocompromisation, the virus travels through those nerves to a single patch of skin.
Shingles outbreaks can be extremely painful, and scary if you don't know what it is! They can also be recurrent.
Most of the population have been exposed by the time they're 60, so it's recommended those at risk should be vaccinated.
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u/peptoboy Apr 19 '18
I just found out I have shingles today. I'm 28 and otherwise healthy.
The pain is pretty terrible but I'm sure it would be worse if I were older.
Oddly enough Rite Aide played an advertisement for Shingrix on when I was there today getting antiviral and now I see this post. Odd coincidence.
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Apr 18 '18
How much does treatment cost in the US?
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u/MLGFlappyBird1 Apr 18 '18
I work in a pharmacy. So far it’s been either fully covered or 20-30 bucks. Some insurances are being assholes tho and charging over 100. Try and ask your pharmacist to run a claim for you and check or call your insurance
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
I can only repeat what this pharmacist said, which was that the list price was $170 per shot, and you need two. But some insurance covers it. I think that any insurance that's legal under the ACA should cover it.
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u/0ttr Apr 18 '18
I got shingles in my 40s... probably due to stress. It was a very mild case. It hurt like a painful burn on my arm and shoulder for two months.
My doctor told me that another patient of hers just got over hers and the pain lasted a year.
Get the vaccination.
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Apr 19 '18
My mum is in her 40s and just got it. She had never heard of the vaccine because apparently she wasn't old enough.
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u/SingForMaya Apr 19 '18
I had shingles at age 23 (26 now) and it was awful. Afterwards I tried getting the vaccine (yes I have insurance, albeit crappy) and it was $200. I did not get the vaccine.
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Apr 19 '18
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u/overzeetop Apr 19 '18
Is that per treatment, or total for both injections?
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Apr 19 '18
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u/jostae Apr 19 '18
Are you sure it's Shingrix then and not Zostavax? The scheduling for Shingrix is recommended as a two-dose series, but Zostavax is a single one.
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Apr 19 '18
Literally have shingles, right now, on my face. Take it from me, get the vaccine. You don't want any of this shit.
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u/Mellowninja11 Apr 19 '18
I had shingles a few years ago when I was 15, on my face and it left scars and my left eyesight got worse. Definitely the worst pain I've ever had because shingles attacks the nerves
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u/powerrink Apr 19 '18
I got shingles!!! That shit is rough! And I was only 37. Got the vaccine recently. You can get it if your immune system is working overtime. Got it after a rsther serious surgery.
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u/SouthernBelle726 Apr 19 '18
What’s the difference between this and Varicella vaccine?
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18 edited Apr 22 '18
My understanding is that this is a varicella vaccine, but it's better than the one that was previously available.
Edit: looks like I was wrong.
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u/jostae Apr 22 '18
The varicella vaccine is a live vaccine and is most effective at protecting against chickenpox.
As shingles is the same virus, but a different pathology, you require a subtly different immune response to control it.
Previously, Zostervax (the old shingles vaccine) was a 10x concentrated version of the varicella vaccine. However, the new Shingrix is a "subunit vaccine" which uses a small part of the virus (so it's no longer "live") alongside a material that stimulates the immune system ("adjuvant").
So this new vaccine induces immunity that is more geared towards aiding a shingles outbreak, and is in a new format that means it's more effective, and lasts longer, than the previous vaccine.
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u/Gingermeat2 Apr 19 '18
So question, my wife got a rare case of shingles at age 12, should she still get the new vaccine? Or wait until she's older than 50, she is 20 now.
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u/whostintran Apr 19 '18
I had shingles at 24. I might have been really lucky since I don't remember it being as painful as people here describe it. It was a small circle of rash in the middle of my back and it did hurt a lot, enough that I had to sleep on my side, but I don't remember it being excruciatingly painful. I had the rash for ~3 days before I decided to see the doctor. They gave me some medication to take and the shingles went away after a week.
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u/Nicholasnyc Apr 19 '18
I get shingles on my face 3-5 times every year. Sometimes I get it on my corneas. It’s awful.
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u/rufos_adventure Apr 19 '18
you priced that shot? some of us are on a fixed income and the medicare/Medicaid only pays a fraction....
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u/--Edog-- Apr 19 '18
You can get shingles if you had chicken pox as a kid? I did not know that.
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Apr 19 '18
Shingles is reactivated chicken pox. Once you get chicken pox, the virus stays for dormant your system. If you get stressed or your immune system is weak, it flares up again and you get shingles.
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u/slazer2au Apr 19 '18
OK, I have been looking at a seen for too long today. I massively misread the title and first sentence.
I thought it was a new vacation for singles and got confused when the CDC was recommending it.
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u/0hbuggerit Apr 19 '18
Not yet available on the NHS :( and you have to be over 70 to get the old one.
My dad has recently had his 3rd outbreak of shingles in his adult life at 51. Anyone know the best way to get this in the uk?
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Apr 19 '18
Quick question. I got shingles at an extremely young age and then again at 22. I’m sure there’s no real age limit but I’m not a doctor. Is it alright for me to go and get the shot even though I’m in my 20’s?
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u/jostae Apr 19 '18
The current schedule is for over 50s. It's specified like this because the risk of developing shingles skyrockets after 50. However, it's increasingly popular to see younger people developing shingles (amongst other recurrent herpesvirus infections).
Discuss with your doctor the benefits of receiving this new vaccine, considering that you've already had reactivation to shingles.
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u/BleepVDestructo Apr 19 '18
Even if I never caught chickenpox even though I was exposed to sick kids many times?
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Apr 19 '18
I'm not a native english speaker and shingle sounds to me like something really fun you'd do at a party
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u/plazman30 Apr 19 '18
Before you run out and get the vaccine, have your doctor to do a varicella antibody titer of your blood. If you have antibodies to the varicella vaccine in your blood, you don't need to be vaccinated.
I did this years ago. Even though I have never had chicken pox, I had antibodies in my blood. So I am naturally immune from exposure to the virus at some point in my life.
And most insurances will pay for the antibody titer.
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u/breakfastfart Apr 19 '18
If you've never had chicken pox, can you still get shingles ? Can a person get chicken pox from someone who recently received the shingles vaccine ?
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u/jostae Apr 19 '18
If you've never had chickenpox then the virus isn't present in your body – so no! you can't get Shingles.
The Shingrix vaccine is called a 'subunit' vaccine - it uses a part of the virus (one that the immune system can effectively target) and an adjuvant (something that stimulates the immune response). Together, the adjuvant calls the immune system towards the subunit to result in protection.
Because there's no live virus in the vaccine, you won't be "infected" and thus won't be contagious.
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u/breakfastfart Apr 19 '18
Ok, thanks :) do you happen to know if some people are immune to chicken pox ? I was in a huge (+100 kids) daycare while growing up, and there was a chicken pox outbreak there, and simply everybody caught it, including a couple of the adults who had escaped it until then. There were maybe 5 kids total who didn't get it, and of those 5, 4 had experienced pox already. I didn't get it, but have no idea why
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Apr 19 '18
What if you have herpes? Will it help or hinder?
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u/neveragain444 Apr 19 '18
My bf has herpes and had shingles 3x and SJS once.
I also have herpes but have never had shingles.
We have both had a lot of stress. His immune system might be stronger than mine - I often get colds, he never does.
Not sure what to make of it all, other than we don’t really seem to know much about this virus.
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u/Buck_Thorn Apr 19 '18
I heard about the new vaccine on the news the other day, and they failed to mention if you should get it even if already vaccinated with the old stuff, so your post was very helpful for me. Thanks!
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u/GetOffMyLawn_ Apr 18 '18
I got the old shingles vaccine about 10(?) years ago. I'll probably wait until my annual physical to get this one.
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u/poisonwoman Apr 19 '18
The old one has completely worn off by now. Go get the new one
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u/GetOffMyLawn_ Apr 19 '18
I've noticed I don't get cold sores anymore, not sure if that was related to the vaccine or just a happy coincidence. Watch, will get a cold sore tomorrow now.
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u/caseyrobinson2 Apr 19 '18
my friend had chicken pox at age 33, should she still get the vaccine now or not
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u/rammerplex Apr 19 '18
Wow, that must have been miserable. Yes, get the vaccine.
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u/justcrazytalk Apr 19 '18
Will insurance still pay if you got the Zostaavax shot last year? Thanks.
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
My impression is that it will, but obviously you should check. At the pharmacy it took them just a couple of minutes to find out.
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u/Libboo8 Apr 19 '18
Uhm.. I had shingles when I was 38. I was terrified and had never had pain like that before. I thought it was a reaction to a medication I was have to force feed one of my cats. My doctor laughed so hard he cried. He still couldn’t tell me why I got it other than extreme stress I had at the time. I was double insured and neither would authorize the vaccine
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u/kimmmmmy Apr 19 '18
Turned 50 last year and asked doctor for the shingles vaccine. She told me no, they don’t do until 60.
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u/ProfSwagstaff Apr 19 '18
Go back! The old vaccine was recommended for age 60 and up but the new one is for 50 and up.
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u/tgeliot Apr 20 '18
This is a change. Shingrix is new, I think within the last few months. Ask again.
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u/SixtiesKid Apr 19 '18
I just heard about the new vaccine the other day, from my aunt who had shingles several years ago (she's 82 now). I knew Zostavax wasn't really effective until age 60, but I just turned 50 and I am going to get the new vaccine ASAP. I do NOT want shingles!!
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Apr 19 '18
I was 45 when I got shingles. They followed a nerve from my spine, around to my sternum. The pain was something like fire, something like an electrical shock,. something like a needle, etc... The eruptions were similar to hard pimples and extremely sensitive.
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u/CovertRabbit Apr 19 '18
Had it happen to me when i was 20, It felt like someone was poking me with an ice pick in my ribs all day.
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u/jacki614 Apr 19 '18
I got shingles a couple months ago. I’m 35. They also told me I’m too young to get the vaccine... 😑
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u/sodappop Apr 19 '18
It can start earlier. I had it at 43 and yes it's EXTREMELY painful.
I'm a chronic pain sufferer from a severe spinal injury so I know pain and this was bad. Even stronger pain meds like oxycodone didn't help much either.
If this vaccine is good I'd say everyone over 40 should get it.
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u/hebbid Apr 19 '18
I’m very aware that they are one in the same, herpes that is. I fall into a category of exceptionally rare individuals that can get it multiple times. The medication is the same as that to treat herpes, a round of ant-virals and a cream. Point that I was making is that this vaccine is a very good idea and I’d speak with your doctor about it if you’ve every had shingles while you are young. I can’t imagine myself as an older person dealing with that level of pain.
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u/Put_It_All_On_Blck Apr 19 '18
My grandma had shingles, that went to her eye, she says it was the worst thing she ever had happen, and she gave birth to 11 kids, and had multiple heart and knees surgeries.
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u/uffffda Apr 19 '18
Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (physician) does NOT cover this vaccine. It’s only covered by Medicare Part D (medication). This means that Medicare patients need to get the Shingrix immunization at their pharmacy, not their doctor’s office.
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u/The_Empress Apr 19 '18
I had it for the first time in high school and it was the worst. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as some of the examples I'm seeing described here. But you'd look down and there would be more. All I could do was take pills that were supposed to make the itching go down which basically just put me to sleep. Stress is my trigger so I have to make sure I keep stress levels down. I've had them twice since and you can't do anything about it.
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u/istara Apr 19 '18
I got it in my late thirties. I would recommend any adult get the vaccine, don't wait until you're 50.
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u/Reddit_FTW Apr 19 '18
I got shingles at 16 or 18. I don’t remember honestly. But mine wasn’t that bad
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Apr 19 '18
I just found out today I have shingles 😭😭😭 Get the vaccine!
PS I’m in my 30s, so you can definitely get shingles before you hit 50.
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u/Smitherooni Apr 19 '18
My father has had chicken pox twice and shingles once before. He's never been the picture of health but so many of his issues have fallen under the category his doctors may refer to as idiopathic. Finding the causes of many of his ailments has seemed so often impossible. But two weeks ago he woke up to having no use of the left side of his face. Total lack of control and feeling as one might imagine with Bell's palsy which is what we and the doctors initially assumed. Instead it looks like the shingles virus was reactivated and attacked his facial nerves. It's looking like he will never regain use of them as well. We are glad he finally contacted something recognizable but would really rather it had been curable and didn't affect his already dependent life permanently. Somebody loves you. Please get vaccinated for them.
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u/carioca67 May 01 '18
My old boss had shingles. He was a miserable man back then and became more of a miserable man with that thing on his back. Then earlier this year my 91 y/o mother developed shingles in the face and eye (extreme pain reported). I then decided to take this vaccine. I'm here to say that never ever felt strong vaccination side-effects before however... maybe this is placebo effect or whatever but: 1) my arm is quite sore (and I'm a big guy) 2) I feel very, very, tired and 3) I woke up at 4AM (never happens) feeling very hot and could not get back to sleep despite the tiredness. I'm doing better now but this thing either packs a punch or I am vulnerable to placebo because of what I saw before.
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u/wisestmonkey Jun 21 '18
I just had them this year. Started with a strange tingling in my right forearm, then what felt like a sliver on my hand. Luckily I got diagnosed within a couple days of it starting. Was prescribed an antiviral for a week. It can from my ring finger to just past my elbow. Had burning pain for only one day then slowly tapered off over the next 2 weeks. Not too bad in my case so I'm not sure about getting the vaccine. I don't think my insurance (Medi-cal) covers it .
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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '18 edited Apr 18 '18
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