Why You Should Get the New Shingles Vaccine

[elleng]

'I love my local YMCA for many reasons beyond my daily swim. Top of the list: the friendships and conversations in the locker room that are frequent sources of valuable information, connections and motivation. For example, I recently overheard a discussion about Y members and friends of members who had experienced devastating attacks of shingles, including one woman who nearly lost an eye and another who was left with unrelenting nerve pain.

That was the push I needed to end my procrastination about getting the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last October after studies involving 16,600 people showed it to be far more effective at preventing this disease than the first shingles vaccine, Zostavax, which I had had a decade earlier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people 50 and older, including those previously immunized with Zostavax, should now get the Shingrix vaccine.

The process was surprisingly simple and less costly than I had anticipated (list price is $280 for the two-part shot without insurance). All I needed was a prescription from my doctor. I took it to my local pharmacy, where a staff pharmacist administered the vaccine. I’ll get the second part the same way in May. My Medicare Part D insurance covered it with a $40 co-pay for each part. (The cost may be higher if the vaccine is administered in a doctor’s office, so check first.)

Many millions of Americans, especially those older than 40, are susceptible to an eventual attack of shingles, caused by the very same virus that causes chickenpox. Once this virus, varicella zoster, infects a person, it lies dormant for decades in nerve roots, ready to pounce when the immune system is weakened, say, by stress, medication, trauma or disease. One-third of Americans eventually get shingles, but the risk rises with age, and by age 85 half of adults will have had at least one outbreak of shingles.'>>>

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/well/why-you-should-get-the-new-shingles-vaccine.html?

[Shemp Howard]

1. Thanks for posting this!

I got a nasty case of shingles 15 years ago, and I'm still dealing with the after-effects (occasional itchiness at the site). I got the Zostavax shot about 2 years after that, as you can get shingles more than once.

But I've never heard of the Shingrix vaccine. I'll be asking my doctor about it. Thanks again for posting.

[womanofthehills]

2. Rare side effect - Corneal inflammation in some patients

Chickenpox, Shingles Vaccine May Cause Corneal Inflammation in Some Patients

In use for more than 20 years, the varicella zoster virus vaccine for chickenpox and shingles is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found, in rare instances, a link between the vaccine and corneal inflammation. It is a finding the researchers say should be discussed by primary care physicians and patients with a history of eye inflammation before getting vaccinated.

“Keratitis, or inflammation of the clear layer on the front of the eye, is a vision issue that can cause serious complications or even permanent damage to your vision if left untreated,” said Frederick W. Fraunfelder, MD, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the MU School of Medicine and director of MU Health Care’s Mason Eye Institute. “By studying case reports from national and international registries, we found at least 20 cases of keratitis occurred in children and adults within a month of administration of the chickenpox and shingles vaccine. While this is a rare occurrence, it’s important for physicians to know when giving the vaccine to individuals who have a history of the condition because it could be reactivated by the vaccine.”

https://medicine.missouri.edu/2016/01/chickenpox-shingles-vaccine-may-cause-corneal-inflammation-in-some-patients/

[elleng]

3. I wasn't aware of this complication,

received the 'old' zoster vaccine some years ago.

[trotsky]

6. Also a rare side effect of getting the actual virus.

Depends on susceptibility, and where the virus finds itself I guess.

[Va Lefty]

4. Got the first shot in February had flu like symptoms the next day

due to get second shot this month.

[elleng]

5. Good luck!

Did notice last para of article: It's not a walk in the park.

[left-of-center2012]

7. Who paid, when you got the vaccine?

I am referring here to the new shingles vaccine "Shingrix".

I called my health insurance this morning (Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage HMO) and they told me Medicare is not paying for it "at this time".
Maybe sometime in the future.

So I 'googled' the cost, and found $280 for the two shots required.
One to begin and another a month or two after.

[elleng]

9. I haven't gotten it 'yet.'

Next post says BC/BS paid.

[wishstar]

8. I got the shot this week, was entirely paid by my Blue Cross insurance

I got the previous shingles vaccine several years ago and had a mild reaction of pain in the arm, more than from flu vaccine.

But I had a worse reaction from the new vaccine with extremely sore arm and aches all over and headache during the night. But as soon as I had some strong coffee, an Aleve and a good breakfast I felt fine the next day except my arm is still sore to the touch now 3 days after the shot. Definitely worst reaction I have ever had to a vaccine and have to have another shot in a couple of months.

[wishstar]

10. Got second shot this week and had an awful night with side effects again

Terrible night feeling like the flu, aching all over with extreme fatigue and nausea and as if I couldn't breath adequately. But just like with the first shot, a couple cups of coffee and an Aleve with a banana and oatmeal cookie restored to normalcy. I failed to remember to have coffee and an Aleve at bedtime instead of the next morning after suffering through a most miserable night.

I would not recommend to anyone who takes other medications before bedtime such as anti-depressants/ Xanax as the extreme fatigue/brain fog and breathing problem could be dangerous. I am not on any medications and had not had anything to drink yet still had some bad side effects.

[elleng]

11. Sounds awful.

[RobinA]

12. Some People

do get flu-like side effects, but it isn't a given. I got my first shot about a month ago and felt about 90% the next day and back to 100% from there on out. The site did hurt for a couple days, but nothing horrible.

[elleng]

13. Good. Awaiting my first.

Will be in touch!

[wishstar]

14. First shot only gave me a sore arm and some aches that night but 2nd shot caused blisters, rashes

In addition to what I described above that the 2nd shot was much worse for me in the intensity of sore left arm plus aching all over and shortness of breath that night, I also developed rashes and blisters over the next week or so from my left forehead, left side of nose down to left side of lip down to left chest area that looked like an outbreak of chicken pox. The blisters on my face all cleared up quickly without any discomfort, but the rash and blisters on my chest were sore and several weeks later I still have a couple of dark scars from the worst of the chest blisters.

Hope your second shot goes better than mine did as far as allergic reactions.

[elleng]

15. So do I hope it does;

just made appointment for first shot Thursday, and will wait a while for 2d.

[elleng]

16. Finally got the first shot a few hours ago;

awaiting whatever!

[elleng]

17. No adverse effects,

but some difficulty sleeping on left arm (where shot received) for 2 nights.

NEXT, booster, in a few months.

[question everything]

18. Got mine two days ago, my upper arm hurt like hell

It felt as if the whole muscle was just locked in place.

Plus, as I was getting to bed, I was shivering, at 75 degrees!

Thankfully, yesterday was better and today even more so.

She really gave it at the top of the arm, almost at the shoulder. And after I've heard of my friend's shoulder joint injury after a flu injection as I posted here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/114219760

I was a bit concerned. Anyway, am glad I got it and will go back after 2- 6 months.

[elleng]

19. Glad it's over for you,

and hope discomfort dissipates quickly.

Not looking forward to booster, which I'll prolly get in November (when I'll have to return to pharmacy to renew a prescription.)