How should we deal with the groups who refuse to have the vaccine?

As someone upthread rightly stated, vaccines produce “side effects” pretty quickly and shows the vaccine’s working. Some people have more of a reaction than others. I remember having a Typhoid jab once and for almost 24 hours felt absolutely dreadful. It started within an hour of having it administered. The only one I was slightly nervous about was when I had to have the Rabies one which was also two doses. Totally irrational to be worried about it but I was a bit nervous - not sure why.

You have always only got shingles if you have had chickenpox first, nothing to do with the vaccination. Most people had chicken pox as children and the many that then had shingles didn't have shingles until 40-50 years after they had had chicken pox. My DM and her sister both had chicken pox as children, but no vaccination, and had shingles in their 60s.

DD had chicken pox, no vaccine available, and then had shingles in her 20s. I have had chicken pox - and badly. I was first off the mark to have the anti shingles jab as soon as it was introduced.

I do not see how the MMRV can induce something that was already known to happen (and did so frequently before the anti-shingle jab).

It’s personal choice. However I’ve just been sent home Friday after work has been hit with COVID I’m 61 and the girls I work with are a lot younger and they’ve tested positive and I’ve tested negative which I’m grateful for as have terrible asthma and can’t believe it.no so it knows no age barriers.

There is an anti shingles jab? Is it available on the NHS?

There is GagaJo and yes, it's available, free of charge on the NHS, to the over 70s.

Bizarrely though the shingles vaccine is only available to certain, seemingly random ages from I believe 70 onwards.

I think it’s possible to have it at some pharmacies but they charge and it has to be pre ordered. Worth it though as shingles is a most unpleasant and very painful thing to have.

Yes, I would pay to have it, JE. I have heard shingles is awful. Chicken pox at 15 was bad enough.

I can’t understand anyone being sucked up into these conspiracy theories. Vaccination is essential in order to get as close to normality as we can. It is perfectly safe, enough people have now been vaccinated to show that and it is infinitely better than risking getting the virus.

Gagajo. Yes there is a shingles vaccination, available from GP for over 70’s.

The shingles vaccination was available to two groups over 70 and I fell in the group between the two. I can’t afford to be ill so paid our local pharmacist to administer it - about £170 if I remember rightly. Think all over 70s can have it now but then it provided one less thing to worry about.

Like GrannySomerset I kept falling between the two ages for which the shingles vaccination was available in any one year, but then I saw a poster in the GP's waiting room that said it had to be done before the age of 80. As I was just approaching my 79th birthday, I asked the receptionist who said they happened to have a slot for it that afternoon. Done deal! For those of you who haven't had that vaccination, I recommend asking at your GP's surgery and, if possible, get it asap.

When the Shingles vaccination was introduced via the NHS, it was rolled out in a very strange way as there was a shortage of supply. So, each year two different birth years for people in their 70's were offered this vaccination. I remembered my strong, health Dad suffering very badly with the aftermath of Shingles for years, and as I had several small g.children I really wanted to have it.

However, I fell into the year group which was the very final one to become due under this original system, and was actually 78yrs old when I received it. It is now offered to anyone when they reach their 70th birthday or, if you missed it, then anytime up to your 80th birthday. It is not offered to people over the age of 80 normally, as there are some questions regarding its efficacy when used in that age group.

I would be unhappy about compulsory vaccination - but think far more education of how vaccines actually work. There are still so many people (even on GN) who report becoming ill with 'flu after receiving their 'flu jabs. Ignorance of vaccinations is a real problem.

On a more jokey note - if I hear of anyone trying to talk about this chip that Bill Gates want to insert into us - I always tell them that I hope there is a better battery for these than we get in our mobile phones!!!! Would not last more than a few hours would it???

In that case Franbern I think Bill Gates has already got to me.
My battery has invariably run right down by the early evening ? !

Honestly M0nica, look it up, it's well documented. It's a long term side effect of MMRV if you have it as well as the Chickenpox vaccine. I only mentioned it as you said there was no evidence. This is one rare and outside the norm situation where there is evidence. It's not a "common" side effect but it does exist.

We all know that Chickenpox can lead to Shingles later.
You are just not correct here. Sorry.

I wish my father had had the Shingles vaccine. He really suffered with this.

As I understand the chicken pox jab is not compulsory. If someone has shingles later how can they tell whether it is the natural occurence or the vaccine induced occurrence, especally as the natural occurrence can be under 10 years, as with DD or 40, 50 years or more later, as with DM and her sister?

I don't know M0nica you could Google the research...
I shouldn't really be here... I'm supposed to be working (for myself I might add!!)

I didn’t know there was a shingles vaccine, very interesting. I have had chicken pox, mumps, measles, etc. as a small child.

Blossoming the shingles vaccine became available about 7 years ago and initially was rolled out year on year as people reached 70. It is now available to anyone between 70 - 80.

I think, like some other treatments/vaccines, it is not as effective once you are over 80.

BlueBelle

When you are travelling to tropical countries you have to show vaccination cards for various tropical diseases I would imagine this will be the same and I can assure you all the people I know who are anti vax are travellers and won’t want to be restricted in any way If anything will get them vaccinated that will

Exactly. Nothing needs to be done with anti vaxxers. It will sort itself out when they can't gain access to various services they think are their right.

My hairdresser for one, is vulnerable and has a policy not to accept anyone who hasn't had the jab as a customer. It will apply in due course to other personal services as well as to travelling.

There was an item on the BBC this morning that fake vaccination certificates can be purchased on line. Very worrying to think that this is one way those who refuse the vaccination will still be able to travel and access services that require proof that the vaccine has been received.

Smileless2012

There was an item on the BBC this morning that fake vaccination certificates can be purchased on line. Very worrying to think that this is one way those who refuse the vaccination will still be able to travel and access services that require proof that the vaccine has been received.

Quite right, of course. But you can forge banknotes, and there are ways to sort out the real from the frogeries. No doubt this can be applied to vaccination certificates.

...forgeries. Doh!

Why, I wonder, is the shingles vaccination available only to the 70 - 80 age bracket. I've known lots of people who have had shingles at much earlier ages. My sister had it in her 40s and has had recurrences occasionally since - now in her 70s, I don't know if it would be worthwhile for her to have the jab now.

I understand that it is because the disease can be much more severe for over 70s and can lead to permanent disability and even death.

I think price also comes into it and it is a quite expensive vaccine. The vaccine is I think available to anyone outside the 70-80 age group who wants it, but they will have to pay for it.