slo’s WEDNESDAY 9/24 poll - Shingles Vaccine 💉

[Lumpy1106]

I had a pretty severe case of Chicken Pox when I was about 9 or 10. I got both doses of the Shingles Vaccine earlier this year. It was no big deal - didn't even feel fatigued.
DD had a scheduled vaccine she got the same time as I got the shingles vaccine. She was very nervous until we started joking about it. She said the nurse was going to "go hard" on the vaccine, and by that she meant that she was going to punch her in the arm to numb it before giving her the shot. That got us giggling pretty good and she forgot why we were even there. She got the shot - and did not get punched.

 

[mom2rtk]

I got both doses earlier this year. I had been meaning to do it but Covid vaccines really put me off since I got so sick with each of those.

Then earlier this year I saw some research indicating that for some reason, the Shingles vaccine was resulting in lowered incidence of dementia. I know they might later prove that wrong, but it nudged me to the pharmacy. My dad is 92 and suffering advanced dementia currently in memory care. So I figured the universe was telling me to go.

First shot, I was just tired and had a sore arm. Second shot had chills, aches, fatigue, etc. Similar to what I get with the Covid shot. But I'm glad I did it.

 

[Wood Nymph]

My son got shingles in his 40’s and my son-in-law was in his late twenties. I got my shingles vaccine when my sister-in-law got shingles

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

Another timely poll @slo! I just got my first dose of the shingles vaccine last week on the same day I got my flu shot. It was a rough 24 hours for me. I had all the side effects except nausea. It was like a case of the flu. I’m glad I got it done though. My second dose is scheduled for November.

 

[Deb]

I'm well over 50, had chicken pox when I was young, and have not had the shingles vaccine even though we talk about it. I'm worried about the injection. I'm a wuss, and avoid needles at all costs, although I have had 3 COVID shots. For anyone who had the shingles vaccine, how painful is the actual injection? I know it's stupid to be worried about the injection and not the after effects but that's where I am! I know folks who've had shingles and say it would have been worth a dozen shots to have avoided it- so I really should have it.

the injection was no worse than a flu shot or covid shot. But it is pretty normal for one of the two doses to hit you hard for a day or two.

 

[VandVsmama]

Let’s have a little more serious poll today and discuss something medical, which will be the shingles vaccine. I am normally not a big yearly vaccine adult - I don’t get a flu shot, RSV shot, COVID shot or shingles shot. I am thinking about changing that to get the shingles shot this year, but I’m still not sure. As many know, I manage a chiropractors office and many of our patients over 50 have had the shingles and tell me how miserable they were with this. My mom had the shingles about 2 years ago and she was pretty miserable too. A fella that I listen to on The Catholic Channel had a terrible case of the shingles a few years ago and talked how it was the worst thing he ever experienced. I consider myself a pretty strong person, and have a high tolerance for pain, but the thought of being sidelined from shingles makes me really consider getting this vaccine. For those that know nothing about the shingles vaccine, here ya go…….

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So, now that you’ve all read that, and learned a little about the shingles vaccine, let’s have a discussion……


Do you get the shingles vaccine?
Are you over 50 years old?
Have you had the shingles in the past?
(multiple choice)

*This is in NO WAY a thread to debate about vaccines. If you feel compelled to debate about this, make a spin off thread about it on the controversial topics board. Keep this thread respectful - thank you!



For Me…..As I mentioned above, I have not had the shingles vaccine and I’m highly considering it this year. I have also never had shingles and I don’t want to.

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My husband's grandma got shingles and she went blind from it because it infected her eyes. Life permanently altered. Go get vaccinated.

 

[Skywalker3]

I had shingles when I was pregnant with my youngest DS, and it was THE absolute most horrible , painful experience. It felt like someone was sticking a hot poker into my abdomen, and twisting it, dreadful and nonstop. As soon as I saw a vaccine was out, I got it. I was in my 40s when I got the old version, since I'd had shingles it was covered by insurance . Then when the new one came out, I got that 2 dose one right asap too. I hope I never have to suffer through shingles again. I know several people who had bad reactions to the vaccine, and DH and I both ran temperatures, felt a little off, but I think it's totally worth it if you can avoid shingles, or lessen the intensity if you do get it after the vaccine.

 

[ncc1701]

I got the shots in the last 16 months. I had Chicken Pox as a child( no vaccine at the time) .My DH had a mild case about 7 years ago. But I heard from others how bad shingles could be.Other than a sore arm both times I had no side affects.

 

[auntfrannie]

Yep I got the vaccine. I had shingles when I was in my late 40s and never want to go through that again. I still have numbness around my rib cage on one side (from the shingles, not the vaccine).

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I wish they would offer the vaccine for those of us under 50. I know a few people who have had shingles in their 40s, and I don't want it. I'm almost there, and that will be one of the very first things I do when I turn 50. (after 15+ years of allergy shots, I am not afraid of a needle in the least, and I will gladly take a sore arm or 24 hours of feeling under the weather to reduce/mitigate the chances of any disease that could have far worse consequences).

 

[Turn the Page]

I am immunoompromised and got both doses earlier this year. I am also one that takes all the vaccines. I am 42 but got pneumonia vaccines about 9 years ago and get the flu and covid vaccines annually. Just got those the day before yesterday, actually. Would have preferred to spread them out rather than getting them together but I have to time vaccines with my medication doses so there are only a couple days a month I can get them.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm 68 and I don't get the vaccine. I had shingles maybe 10 years ago, no blisters, a slight rash under the skin. It was on my upper thigh and I couldn't move that leg very well for about 5 days. I didn't go to the doctor until it was too late to give me anything for the symptoms so it was just advil and an OTC Lidocane rub. I was in the same spot that I had a chicken pock when I got them. Yes, I had a pock when I got chicken pox. I have opted not to get the shot because, most of the time for me, the cure is worse than the disease. On the other hand, my Mama had shingles and it was on the entire right side of her torso and pretty bad. It never actually went away, the outward symptoms did so no rash or blisters but she always had horrible pain under her arm on that side if anyone touched it. She did get the shot every year, had been taking it for a few years before she actually got shingles. In her case, she had Lupus so anything was a crap shoot as to how she was going to react. I also don't get flu shots for the same reason, my body just doesn't like vaccines. I got one Covid shot and it almost killed me so I didn't get the second one. I laid in bed for 24 hours and cried because there wasn't a part of my body that didn't hurt and I was throwing up anything I put in my stomach, including water. I have a very high tolerance for pain since I'm allergic to Codene so usually if I have any kind of surgery I just have to get by with Advil and Aleve. So for me to be actually crying from pain, it had to be worse than waking up in the middle of surgery pain (which I did do).

 

[ronandannette]

I am begging anyone who can get the vaccine to get it! I’m in month four of recovery from shingles and it was AWFUL! I posted a thread about it on the controversial topics board, so I know not many here would have read it.

For anyone curious, here’s what the rash on my arm looked like the day I went to the dr and started meds.

Spoiler: shingles rash

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I was so, so sorry for you. I hope it’s getting better. As I’ve mentioned here frequently, I had a deep dread of shingles and here in Alberta, the vaccine is not routinely prescribed ( or covered by insurance) until the age of 55. I was on the pharmacy doorstep the week of my birthday, which fell during the height of Covid, when vaccinations were just becoming available to gen pop. I took both the Shingrex first dose and the second dose of AstraZeneca at the same time. It made me so sick that I self-reported for Covid testing. I didn’t have it; it was just a rough ride with the vaccine. Still, I regret nothing and I’d do it all again tomorrow. Thank you for this important public awareness announcement.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My mom had the shingles about 2 years ago and she was pretty miserable too. A fella that I listen to on The Catholic Channel had a terrible case of the shingles a few years ago and talked how it was the worst thing he ever experienced.

I got the original shingles vaccine (single shot - 40% effectiveness). I also received the 2 shot current shingles vaccine (90+% effectiveness). I had no effects from the first shot in the 2 shot series, but the second one I got a big, red, hot welt on my arm, and couldn't raise my arm for about 4 days (like with tetanus shots)

Biggest reason - my sister had shingles as a child. She was miserable for months. She had scars around her side for the rest of her life that also would get easily irritated and hurt.

So, even 40% effectiveness worked for me to get it and the more effective current vaccine.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

She did get the shot every year, had been taking it for a few years before she actually got shingles.

The shingles vaccine isn't an annual shot. It's a 2 shot series administered 2 to 6 months apart.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I haven't gotten it, but I know I should. I definitely don't want shingles.

 

[loves to dive]

The shingles vaccine isn't an annual shot. It's a 2 shot series administered 2 to 6 months apart.

I should have said she got the vaccine every year, in whatever dose it was administered. She died in 2008 so it might have been administered differently back then or I just didn't know she was getting it twice. I was taking her to some doctor or another at least once a week so tracking her vaccines was hard. I know her GP gave her flu and shingles vaccines.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I should have said she got the vaccine every year, in whatever dose it was administered. She died in 2008 so it might have been administered differently back then or I just didn't know she was getting it twice. I was taking her to some doctor or another at least once a week so tracking her vaccines was hard. I know her GP gave her flu and shingles vaccines.

There were 2 separate shingles vaccinations.

The first one (publicly issued 2006, withdrawn from availability in 2020, and removed from the market 2023) had about a 40% efficacy, and was a single shot.

The second one (publicly available 2017) has about 90+% efficacy, and is a 2 shot series, the second one administered 2-6 months after the first.

Both vaccination series were/are only administered once, not repeated annually.

 

[jo-jo]

I got the 2 shot one. No body side effects, but arm felt like it was hit with a baseball bat. Trouble sleeping for a couple of days.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I got the two-shot one a couple of years ago. First shot made me very fatigued and I slept it off for about 24 hours. 2nd shot I had no problem other than a sore arm.

My cousin went through shingles, and had it bad on one of her knees. This was years ago, but she still has soreness there. I had a very bad case of chicken pox when I was a kid-I had them under my eyelids, in my ears, and a few places I can't mention. I figure were I to get shingles, it would be equally terrible.