Posted , 8 users are following.
Greetings from the Texas Gulf Coast!
Recently the group responded to a Flu vaccination question.
What about the shingles vaccination I've had PMR since April and I am on 14 mg pred.
Thanks
0 likes, 19 replies
We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.
lynda62707 rich38490
Posted
First, stay dry and out of harm's way!! Welcome to this very informative forum. It's nice to hear from someone else from the state's, Ca., myself! You and I are about on the same timeline...June for me. I've seen several different responses about vacations on this forum, so I'm still somewhat confused! Bottom line as far as I'm concerned, jury's still out. Since there's still a bit of time left 4 flu shots and such, I'm kinda biding my time!
Anhaga rich38490
Posted
If you get the shingles vaccine it should be Shingrix, not Zostavax. Shingrix is made with killed virus so cannot give you shingles. On the other hand some people have quite a severe reaction to the vaccine, my husband (no PMR) felt like he had a bad case of the flu for about twenty four hours. And two shots several months apart are needed. The other problem with vaccination when we are taking pred is our immune response is damped down so we may not develop immunity to the same extent as someone not on an immunosuppressant. On the other hand it's bound to help to some extent and better than getting full blown shingles. Shingrix is supposed to be about 97% effective and so far signs are it retains its effectiveness better than Zostavax. Zostavax is not much better than 50% effective and its effectiveness fades over the years. Shingrix is really new so any problems haven't surfaced yet but on the face of it, it looks like the better option.
Disclaimer: no evidence I've had chicken pox, so have no personal experience of shingles vaccine. I wouldn't let my husband get Zostavax, even pre-PMR/pred, because I thought it might put me at risk.
rich38490 Anhaga
Posted
Thanks again!
Rich
Anhaga rich38490
Posted
I had been heading towards some volunteering when I succumbed to PMR and had to take pred. As a result I pulled out of the volunteer stream. I would have been required to get a flu shot (working with seniors) which to that point I wasn't interested in having, and the other volunteer position would have been working with children and I decided as they are little germ factories I should stay away from them too! I think your choice has to be based on which is more important to you: staying with the volunteer position and possibly risking adverse but no doubt temporary side effects from a vaccination, or giving up the volunteer position because you're not getting the vaccination, and possibly risking coming down with shingles in the future. It also depends partly where you are on your pred journey. I was faced with the decision very early on, was not yet volunteering in either the nursing home or the school, and flu shot is a different animal from shingles shot anyway. If you enjoy your volunteer work and find it rewarding, well.... probably a fairly easy decision to make.
(The end of my story is that I volunteer in an art gallery now. Coming and going of members of the public, but no close or prolonged contact with anyone, and an ordinary public environment, risk of exposure to unpleasant germs no greater than just being out and about anywhere.)
EileenH rich38490
Posted
Which one? Zostovax isn't a good idea - one of its listed adverse effects is PMR! Shingrix is being claimed to be OK - but there is some concern about the envigorating effect on the immune system for people who have autoimmune disorders:
https://healthunlocked.com/lupusuk/posts/138341008/beware-of-shingles-shingrix-vaccine
richard07199 EileenH
Posted
Hope I’m not getting too personal, but would you get a Shingrix vaccination?
EileenH richard07199
Posted
Me? Not on offer here as far as I know - but very probably not. I like to keep "new" things until others have tried it out first! And they have found the kinks and ironed them out...
ricky23486 rich38490
Posted
lynda62707 ricky23486
Posted
I agree! I'm VERY confused now as to whether or not to take any vaccines, much less one for shingles, which up until very recently has never been something I've ever been concerned about! This seems (for me, anyway) to be one if those "what would you do?" type of questions!
rich38490 ricky23486
Posted
Hi, Ricky, Yes, I 've heard some really bad stories of folks with shingles episodes. I think I will try to get the shingrix. I don't believe I would risk Zostavax. Stay tuned.
priscilla23271 rich38490
Posted
My Doctor's surgery have just contacted me to offer me the shingles vaccine. It seems I have just become eligible because I have just turned 78. No idea whether I had chicken pox as a child. They say that as I am on a low dose of pred (currently 6 1/2 mg) it will be OK to have it. The NHS think it is OK under 10 mg daily. Because I'm in the UK I imagine it will be the Zostovax vaccine. I'm following this post to see what other people's experience has been. I'd hate to get shingles, but I'm not happy about having the vaccine either. Surely if your immune system is already compromised, you are more likely to have a bad reaction?
Anhaga priscilla23271
Posted
Don't get a shingles shot until you have been tested to find out if you are immune to chicken pox. I won't have a shingles shot unless I get tested first so to find out if perhaps I had a subclinical case of CP as a child and developed immunity.
You will not get shingles if you have never had chicken pox. I know the literature says that 99% of Americans, for example, have had chicken pox, even if they don't remember having it. I think it's worth having the test, though, and not taking a chance.
ricky23486 Anhaga
Posted
Anhaga ricky23486
Posted
I don't think there is any question of "having" to have the vaccination - it's not compulsory in the same way as the childhood immunizations are, or as smallpox used to be before it was eradicated. But it means if you have had chicken pox then you "can" or "may" have the shingles vaccination. I've done a bit of reading and frankly I think I'll continue to rely upon my own immune system, pred or no, and not risk any of the vaccinations associated with CP or shingles.
Two of my children had chicken pox, several years apart. First one to have it, think he may still have been a preschooler, was barely ill at all. Daughter had it much later and was in her teens and unhappy for a few days until we discovered a natural remedy, think it included St John's Wort although it's so long ago I don't really remember, which she said worked far better than anything from the drugstore and she recovered very quickly. The third child never showed any signs of catching it. Nor did I.
ricky23486 Anhaga
Posted