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
wendy2135 EileenH
Posted
EileenH wendy2135
Posted
As soon as that it is probably a reaction. But if it continues - yes, get it checked out. As the post says, one of the listed adverse effects of the first shingles vaccine is PMR - they haven't admitted to it on the new one, Shingrix, which isn't yet available in Europe. The new one may be a killed vaccine so it shouldn't be as bad - but it must still stimulate the immune system or there would be no point.I still think it could be a risk.
I do hope it isn't - all the best.
wendy2135 EileenH
Posted
Thank you. Apparently the Shingrix is stronger & more likely to have side effects. Usually no more than 2-3 days. I am hopeful. I have been in bed moaning most of the day.
Anhaga wendy2135
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Anhaga
Posted
Update - within the time period he had the second shot and was wiped out for two days that time. And once again recovered quickly and fully afterwards. I think you just have to accept you're going to feel wretched for a couple of days, book sick leave if you are working, and lie around drinking water and sleeping.
GRANNYOFSIX EileenH
Posted
I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. Without a doubt if the stiffness doesn't go away in the time frame they say it should, I would go to the doctor and be sure to tell them about Polymyalgia!! My husband got the shingles vaccine Zostavax on July 27, 2012 and his first sign of pain and muscle weakness in his neck and back was on September 19, 2012. The pain continually got worse and he tried chiropractor in October. Then it got worse. At the end of Oct went to family doc - blood work was taken. Blood work showed arthritic condition and they ruled out lymes disease. Mid November my husband was put on prednisone - high dose and that calmed it all down. Early December of 2012 the rheumatologist diagnosed him to have polymyalgia Rheumatica. He was on prednisone for about 2-1/2 years. The last time he had to see the rheumatologist was on November 6, 2014. He could finally come off prednisone June 19,, 2014. I hope you don't have PMR!! Please keep us posted.
wendy2135 GRANNYOFSIX
Posted
Thank you for your reply. I felt so much better the next day. The aches & pains felt like the flu. My mom has Polymyalgia Rheumatica like your husband. also. She is off of the Pregnisone and doing well.
maureen49480 EileenH
Posted
This is an interesting article.
I had been on predisolone as short sharp shock treatment for chest infections and asthma over the years.
I had the flu injection in one arm and on the same day the GP suggested I had the shingles injection and injected into the other arm. I had a serious bout of flu and then also got shingles.
Not immediately after I then was diagnosed with Polymyalgia.
I got down to 5mg of predisolone and then had a flare so increased the dose to 7mg.
I have now got shingles again.
I had the Zorvax vaccination.
Will this ever stop.
jim19495 EileenH
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Thanks for this post. Got PMR in Nov2019. Started prednisone at 60mg due to concerns about GCA. Tapered to about 30 mg by Spring and got shingles. Had not been vaccinated and was told to wait 6 months to get new shingles vaccine. Shingles suck but what do you think of "the new" shinfles vaccine?
EileenH jim19495
Posted
I don't know to be honest - there haven't been enough results using it to know how it will function in patients who already have immune system problems of whatever sort. Some experts have expressed concerns about how an already deranged immune system will react to the increased stimulation this new vaccine is claimed to provide. At least this is being considered with the Covid vaccine trials!
Neither vaccine has been mentioned to me here in northern Italy since I assume the new one isn't available on the health service and if I were in the UK then I know it wouldn't be - the stocks are not enough to provide all state-funded health services with enough to treat all eligible patients, available in the UK privately though at a price!
Anhaga jim19495
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I may be a test subject. I've asked to have a test added to my next bloodwork to determine whether I've ever had chicken pox. If I have, then I will get the Shingrix vaccine. It is not offered through our (Canadian) public system (neither is Zostavax btw) so my doctor prescribes it and I get it a the pharmacy. My husband had it. I wouldn't let him have Zostavax as not knowing my chicken pox status I thought a live vaccine would put me at risk. Shingrix is made from killed virus. It's a two shot deal. Both times my husband felt rotten, first time for a day, second time for two days. He spent his time sleeping in an armchair. Then right back to normal with no other after effects. It is considered to be very much more effective than Zostavax and retains its effectiveness over the long term.
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
I did have the shingles injection once, prior to getting PMR. I did have a severe case of Chicken Pox when 7 years old. I was , at the time of the injection ,beginning to suffer from what the Dr thought may be a case of Shingles in two different zones of my body, so I had the injection. When I look back now, I was diagnosed with PMR, 5 months later. I did however think that my health was deteriorating, several months before that. At the time, I did read a historic document written by a doctor
in the very early days of vaccines. He warned that 5 or 6 vaccines would be ok, but any more than that would totally scramble the immune system. I have avoided all vaccines since then. We are offered shingles vaccine, free of charge, at our stage of life (70) in NZ. I have declined
to have it as well as flu vaccines. I don't know how we ended up with PMR, but I have chosen to follow this path of no more vaccines.
Anhaga Flutterbie57
Posted
How would a doctor writing in the early days of vaccines know how many or even if vaccines would scramble the immune system? My personal feeling, and it's only that, mind you, is some of the problems we encounter are not with the active part of the vaccine which triggers an immune response to a specific disease organism, but with some of the additional things that are added, possibly the preservatives, but more likely the adjuvants which enhance the immune response to make the vaccine more effective. I don't know. Would I rather feel wretched for a couple of days or risk getting possibly lifelong suffering from postherpetic neuralgia, given that the likelihood of a similar long-lasting reaction to any vaccine is extremely low?
EileenH Flutterbie57
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As Anhaga says - why? The vaccines themselves were no different from having the disease itself. That's like saying that having each of the diseases themselves would scramble the immune system. Except with some of the diseases you'd be dead - no immune system to scramble I suppose.
Flutterbie57 EileenH
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Very interesting article tho at the time I read it. I will try and find it again. It was about 24 years ago when I did read it. He explained his reasoning at the time and it sounded plausible.
At the time I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which came on shortly after I had a vaccination for Hepatis ? Not long after they were questioning why so many US army personnel also went down with similar problems to me after immunisations. I also had Lichen Planus, another auto immune problem. It came on within hours of me having an operation. The specialist was only interested in what drugs I was given. He had seen a massive rise in this problem shortly after a particular drug came on the market. And then there is Amitryptaline. Within hours I was spinning in outerspace. I have lost balance in one ear. Doctor said it was a possible side effect of the drug. Of course I do not know for sure if any of these things have had a negative effect on me, but I made a decision to let nature take its own course. We all react differently to medication
EileenH Flutterbie57
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I don't disagree - there is a lot of modern life that is having a detrimental effect on some people. But you would think other nations might notice similar effects - but of course, maybe they have ...