The Shingles Vaccine debate and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Posted , 15 users are following.
I had totally forgotten that I found this bit of info well over a year ago when the usual question about the shingles vaccine was asked and wrote a post about it:
"I can't give you the direct link but on a site called "virginiahopkinstestkits" There is a quote from Merck ( the makers of Zostavax):
"According to Merck, the maker of Zostavax, “Serious vaccine-related adverse reactions that have occurred following vaccination with Zostavax include asthma exacerbation and polymyalgia rheumatica [An inflammatory disorder that causes widespread muscle aching and stiffness, primarily in your neck, shoulders, upper arms, thighs and hips, that can last months or even years.] Other serious adverse events reported following vaccination with Zostavax include cardiovascular events (congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema).”
The Zostavax vaccine can also cause shingles.
Notice the CDC says that the vaccine is effective for about half the population age 60 to 69, but only provides “some protection” for older groups. As we get older, it’s more difficult for our immune systems to mount an antibody response in response to a vaccine. That’s why the flu shot isn’t very effective for senior citizens."
You can get a link there for Merck's prescribing info. Google a chunk of the quote and you should get a direct link so you can use it.
If the manufacturers are admitting this it should be taken seriously."
This is the direct link to merckvaccines where you can read it yourself - straight from the horse's mouth:
https://www.merckvaccines.com/Products/ZostavaxMobile/Pages/indications
If the manufacturers say their shingles vaccine can trigger polymyalgia rheumatica, then I think it is fair to say that if we already have PMR - it's not something we need to risk.
1 like, 63 replies
GRANNYOFSIX EileenH
Posted
I am finding this very interesting!!! My husband got the shingles vaccine July, 27, 2012. I got the same vaccine at the same time by the same doctor on the same day. Just not quite 2 months later, on September 19, 2012 my husband woke up with an achy neck and back. Gradually it got worse daily. He was taking Tylenol but that didn't do much at all. On October 14, 2012 on top of the achy back and neck issue now his deltoids and groin area became extremely achy. By the end of that weak his entire body was stiff and was very weak. Went to doctor. Blood work was done. On November 2, 2012 blood results showed indications of arthritic issues. Doc suspected Lymes disease, more blood taken and put on doxycline in case of lymes. More blood work lymes disease ruled out eventually. Doctor put my husband on 6 day prednisone - tapered course starting with 60mg down to 10mg and also given vicodin for pain on November 20, 2012. After just 4 hours on prednisone husband started feeling less achy. On November 21,2012 just one day later he was symptom free. The day after the last 10mg pill was taken, he woke up with the same symptoms. Immediately the doc put him on 5mg pills. The next day no relief. Doc upped dose to 10mg. The next day, once again, symptom free with the 10 mg dose. Continued taking 10mg and was referred to a rheumatologist who at that time diagnosed my husband with PMR. Continued seeing rheumatologist treating him with prednisone until weaned off prednisone and symptom free which concluded November 6, 2014.........26 months later!!!!!!
Today my husband went to the doc for a yearly checkup and was told about a NEW shingles vaccine called SHINGRIX....... he was told it was more effective than zostavax and should consider getting it. Needless to say he and I both very concerned about getting this vaccine.
Also, when I googled back in 2012 the correlation between shingles vaccine and PMR I researched night and day until I found a SMALL article talking about the correlation slightly!!!!!!!!!!!!
TODAY, I googled the correlation and it came up quickly and simple to research. Obviously there is a correlation between zostavax and PMR and my husband is living proof!!!!!
EileenH GRANNYOFSIX
Posted
Yup - and even the company admits it!
https://healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk/posts/134436076/the-shingles-vaccine-debate-and-pmr
Is a link to a discussion on another PMRGCA forum which I posted a year or more ago. If the manufacturer admits the shingles vaccine can cause PMR - it probably does!
And frankly - show me the new one DOESN'T lead to similar problems. Then I MIGHT think about it! Maybe.
Anhaga GRANNYOFSIX
Posted
The new vaccine is made with killed virus, unlike the older one. This does make me think it's less likely to cause problems. We are all told that the flu virus can't cause problems, right? Because it's made with killed virus. But given your husband's history I'd be tempted to wait a year or more to see if any side effects start to surface after the new vaccine has been used for a while and there is a larger cohort than they get from the testing phase.
GRANNYOFSIX EileenH
Posted
GRANNYOFSIX EileenH
Posted
I just read the link. Thank you for sharing! Amazing that they are now admitting that the vaccine can cause PMR. My 5 year old granddaughter was diagnosed with ALL leukemia when she was 2-1/2 years old. My daughter (my granddaughter's mom) is so very knowledgeable about so many medical things now from all her research for 2-1/2 years. She is one who is terrified of what vaccines are actually do to the body after being vaccinated. My daughter was the one who said "what did Dad do differently"......that's what started my research back in 2012 since the ONLY thing different was getting the zostavax vaccine........soooooo scary! PS My granddaughter completed her last chemo treatment last September. She will continue to be checked for "hiding" cancer cells until she is 26 years old.....but she is adorable and doing well now!!!
EileenH GRANNYOFSIX
Posted
But I also feel that there are some that are just making money for the companies - the shingles one seems to be one.
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
Eileen, has the question ever been asked on here, how many of us did have the shingles virus injection prior to getting PMR ? It would be interesting to get some unofficial figures. The reason I wonder how big this particular problem is, because I am in NZ, and when I do go to the Dr there are big posters in every room advertising 'the' vaccine. I have been told by the Dr, that there has been a big increase in PMR here in the last couple of years. Hmmm
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
Show him the article I linked to. We have said before on the forums that PMR is increasing in incidence - interesting to hear a doctor feeling the same.
No, don't think there has been such a question that got sensible answers. Certainly very few of the people in the UK on the forums will have developed PMR after having the shingles vaccine as it hasn't been being pushed until quite recently and most of us on the forums have had PMR for some years. I hadn't - didn't exist 14 years ago as far as I know!
But a retrospective study using GP databases shouldn't be that difficult I'd have thought.
Anhaga EileenH
Posted
EileenH Anhaga
Posted
It does worry me greatly that GPs DON'T think a bit harder with each patient whether it is going to be right for them. No doubt they will say the overall benefit is great - but at what individual cost? When it affects you personally - it is a 100% hit rate...
Anhaga EileenH
Posted
I'm not sure it was ever offered him, but I think he would have asked for it if I hadn't said he shouldn't for my sake (I don't remember ever having CP in the first place never mind the steroid immune suppression). Weirdly the heavy duty pain killer (which is not working well) prescribed for my husband's back pain right after recovering from a lung infection has as a possible side effect breathing issues.
On the other hand he has seen three different doctors over the past couple of weeks, although they each had his file in front of them....
EileenH Anhaga
Posted
"although they each had his file in front of them.... "
And????????????
Anhaga EileenH
Posted
The third one, who saw him after he had taken the second batch of antibiotics and got over the lung infection was the one who prescribed the oxycodone with acetaminophen. Presumably he thought it worth prescribing the lowest possible dose of this medication, which is now very heavily regulated, despite the possible risks. The dosage isn't enough to really help the back pain, not for more an about four hours and he can only take it once a day at bedtime, so I think it was pointless giving it to him. Why are doctors so afraid of aspirin?
EileenH Anhaga
Posted
Anhaga EileenH
Posted
He's got a referral to a physiotherapist. My speculation is that he loafed around, as he had to of course, while he was sick. He's always had back issues. Now he's still loafing around, on the computer for hours a day, and probably not doing his back exercises. I have little sympathy for him at this stage because he's not doing much to help himself.