Shingles Vaccination

[rsvp]

Been offered one by GP - have had chemotherapy/radiotherapy, am very allergic to insect bites, have mild eczema plus a truly dreadful reaction to the first corona virus jab. Any thoughts on yes or no to the jab please.

[jennyjoan]

My brother had shingles and like others said the pain was awful.

If you are over 70 can you request it from your doctor or even pay for it?

[jourdain2]

Jenny-joan - I went to the surgery the day I was 70 and asked for it. I was vaccinated the next week. Ask them. Free and officially recommended once you are 70.

[jennyjoan]

^^^ I did have chicken pox in my early 40s and I will never forget it. It went everywhere.

Sorry rsvp for digressing on your post - but was wondering would getting the shingles vaccine matter because I have had chickenpox

[jourdain2]

I've had chickenpox. It is that which predisposes you to Shingles.

[jennyjoan]

thanks Jourdain - I will be going to get a review at the doctor's in September and so before I go I will email the practitioner and ask for the Shingles vaccination to be available on that day.

[jourdain2]

Good for you J-j. :)

[jno]

I had shingles once. A slightly itchy eye, and that was all. I don't know what people are worrying about...

[Theland]

I was refused my shingles jab two weeks ago because I was halfway through a course of Prednisolone.
Today my surgery contacted me to make an appointment again for the jab.
I've had shingles twice, once many years ago, around my waist, and again earlier this year on my left lower face, neck and shoulder.
I can vouch for the extreme pain.
I still get slight breakouts of it fairly regularly, and have been given Gabapentin for it.

[EdmundD]

I had shingles in my mid-20s around the waist. Felt like I'd been hit in the kidneys. If you can get the vaccination do so.

[Jackdaw33]

I had shingles in 1985. There were no vaccines then. It is a very debilitating disease.

[Peter Pedant]

your GP has said have it
why are you asking us for chrissakes

oh the answer - - yes have it. - me? blood cancer and not been offered and when I have .....

Interesting disease - my papa's senior partner Dr Hope SImpson was the first doctor ( GP) to track down the link to chickpox

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29424331/

[anneasquith]

Pp, you are being rude to rsvp. He is quite right to get advice given his past medical history .

[dannyk13]

jno., if allyou had was an itch eye then I doubt that it was shingles as it is a very painful thing to have.

[anneasquith]

Danny. I think jno was being amusing. ( I think ) .

[andres]

I had shingles way back in the 1940s. Excruciating pain . No vaccine back then. Just aspirin and calamine lotion. Have the vaccination.

[dannyk13]

Anne, that's OK if she was.

[dannyk13]

Just checked and the age qualification for a shingles jab on the NHS is 70 to 79.

[anneasquith]

Jno is SHE ?

[dannyk13]

Anne, I think so but I could be wrong.

[rsvp]

The majority of replies have been extremely helpful - thank you very much for taking the trouble to allay most of my fears - some of us just need a little reassurance every now and again.