Covid & Shingles is there a link?

Florida are advising young men not to have mRNA vaccines. They say the risk from the vaccine outweighs the benefit. Still advice for ( I think) over 50.’s. No mention of what they’re telling young women to do.

I agree, we do have the right to question.
There are specialists in the health profession who have completely changed their understanding of covid and the efficacy of the injections.
But back to your advice specifically about shingles which I also agree with.
Speedy diagnosis is paramount.
Such a horrible illness.

Given that that is aimed at me volver can I just say again that my advice is that anyone who suspects they have shingles needs to see or speak to a doctor asap and, if the doctor prescribes anti virals take them immediately. I would also add don’t get fobbed off by a receptionist, you need an appointment quickly. And if the doctor doesn’t prescribe anti virals ask them why. And if you’re not happy ask for another opinion. Because doctors make mistakes. I only mentioned a particular drug because that’s the one we used to prescribe. Your husband had shingles mildly which is great. But it affected my mum very badly. As for any interactions with different things, covid is still a virus that we know little about. When it first appeared I remember one doctor saying he’d never come across anything like it. Research is ongoing and will continue to be done for a long time to come. Same with the vaccines. It’s all a huge learning curve and the scientists and medics are learning all the time. We have a right to question them.

Had shingles vaccine well over 10yrs ago and assumed covered for life so, when I had what I assumed to be an insect bite on my waist, I ignored for several days (do NOT do as I did and apply piriton - ooch). By time I saw a nurse shingles was well established (wasn't aware that it occured otherwise than on face/neck ) too late for anti-virals. Weeks later DH who had been doing shopping whilst I was still indisposed developed Covid and I soon succumbed. Having suffered with both concurrently I can promise you that in my case Covid though serious was much lesser condition (late seventies + chronic asthmatic). Please, please if you haven't already do get the latest shingles vaccine, it's a miserable condition that I wouldn't wish on anyone (Putin excepted).

Someone said (I've forgotten who) that the Covid Vaccine might make someone less immune to the chicken pox virus. That's hokum.

People who tell us that have worked in the NHS saying that everyone who thinks they have a particular illness should immediately make sure they get started on a particular drug, is spreading misinformation and causing people to worry if they haven't had that drug, as well as implying people who don't do that are somehow at fault.

These are the only two things I have said on this thread that people can disagree with. Accusations of minimising shingles and of knowing everything are misplaced.

maddyone

Not a scientific point of view because I’m not a scientist, but I think the very idea that the Covid vaccination weakens the effect of the Shingles vaccination, or somehow predisposes people to getting shingles is absolute rubbish. Sorry to be blunt, but that’s what I think. And this is the way silly rumours start!

the very idea that the Covid vaccination weakens the effect of the Shingles vaccination
I must have missed that, don't think anyone said that did they?

Because a few people have developed shingles soon after having the SarsCov2 vaccine this prompted research in different countries into a possible link which has so far proved inconclusive. It is an uncommon reaction.

Some research suggests that people who have had Covid may be at an increased risk of developing shingles.

Shingles can be debilitating and painful and its effects shouldn't be under-estimated.

As I said, people have to do their own risk assessments.


Not everyone who gets shingles gets anti-virals prescribed and its irresponsible to tell people on a social media site they should get them, because we know nothing about each others’ health status or circumstances
Well, as they have to be prescribed by a GP I would assume they are the best people to consult.

nanna8

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/p

Link doesn't work nanna8.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/p

Whatever I'm offered (by NHS) with injections I have taken it all my life. I am up to date with flu, pneumonia, shingles every COVID one going. Is it a coincidence that I have not, to date suffered with any of these viruses. I go for breast screening, smear tests regularly. I intend to be like the Queen and die of nothing in a couple of decades.

As an aside.

I’ve been suffering from long covid - nothing desperate, but tire very easily and aches and pains, still a slight cough, which are all getting better.

I’m wondering whether the next booster will affect these symptoms detrimentally.

Does anyone know?

Mainly I ignored it because it was mild.

Don't say you ignored it maddyone! You'll have the shingles police after you!!!

What I was actually wondering is if it weakens the immune system so that diseases like shingles are more likely to occur. Nothing whatsoever to do with the shingles vaccination which is not a live vaccine anyway. Quite impossible, I agree.

nanna8

I forgot that you were an expert on viral infections and most other things scientific, volver. My degrees are sadly out of date.

As you well know nanna8 I'm in no way a medical scientist and have never said that I am, so sarcasm doesn't work here.

But I know that just making comments about medical matters based on nothing but a notion, when we are not medical people is ... well, maddyone uses a good description.

I actually had shingles a few years ago. I was lucky because it was very mild. Mainly tingling pains around one side of my body. I wasn’t post 70 though so maybe that made a difference. I had gone to Istanbul with my husband when I noticed it. Mainly I ignored it because it was mild. I didn’t realise what it was, but when I told my daughter after I returned home, she diagnosed it (she’s a doctor.) I will still get the vaccine though when I’m 70 and it’s offered.

Not a scientific point of view because I’m not a scientist, but I think the very idea that the Covid vaccination weakens the effect of the Shingles vaccination, or somehow predisposes people to getting shingles is absolute rubbish. Sorry to be blunt, but that’s what I think. And this is the way silly rumours start!

Shingles arises from the herpes virus (which those who've had chickenpox have for life dormant in their nerve cells) becoming active - it's no surprise there are some added cases arising from covid - or any other infection, viruses are opportunists. If in time, Zovirax works. Get vaccinated if possible.

I forgot that you were an expert on viral infections and most other things scientific, volver. My degrees are sadly out of date.

I wonder why the uptake of the shingles vaccine has fallen?

Farmor15

You only get shingles if you've previously had chickenpox. Virus lies dormant for years but can be reactivated by eg stress. Getting Covid, or even a vaccine is a type of stress to the body so in some people could be a trigger for shingles.

No direct connection and certainly not a reason to avoid being vaccinated against Covid. However, if shingles vaccine is offered- take it!

I got shingles after a one-off week of emergency care of an under-2 Gdd, which left me feeling like a wet rag - followed immediately by a really stinking cold - and right after that, shingles.
I’m convinced that both the cold and the shingles were down to my immune system being compromised through being so tired.

I was lucky in that the shingles wasn’t too bad, and subsequently had the jab as soon as it was offered

Daisymae was asking questions, ot stating facts.

There have been enough reports of shingles after Covid vaccines to prompt research into this.

I've actually started several times but decided not to post.

(Yes, I know this is a post, but you know what I mean...)

(I did think of posting "maybe everything we know about medical science is wrong and somebody's offhand and ill-researched remark is actually true", but decided against it.)

Caleo

DaisyMae, immune responses are specific to the virus. This means the covid virus immunity is specific to the covid virus, and the shingles virus immunity is specific to the shingles virus.

Apparently more research is called for.

MayBee70

Callistemon21

MayBee70

I still think that saying my husband had it, didn’t take anything for it and was perfectly ok is minimalising the risk.

Yes.
But anti-virals wouldn't be prescribed normally until a rash has appeared to confirm it and need to be prescribed promptly to be effective..

I would say that we all have to do our own risk assessments.

Most people don’t realise how important it is to get medical help asap.

Yes, it is important, but I think symptoms could present as something else or be nonspecific unless the pain definitely follows a recognised path and until the rash appears.

Callistemon21

MayBee70

I still think that saying my husband had it, didn’t take anything for it and was perfectly ok is minimalising the risk.

Yes.
But anti-virals wouldn't be prescribed normally until a rash has appeared to confirm it and need to be prescribed promptly to be effective..

I would say that we all have to do our own risk assessments.

Most people don’t realise how important it is to get medical help asap.

DaisyMae, immune responses are specific to the virus. This means the covid virus immunity is specific to the covid virus, and the shingles virus immunity is specific to the shingles virus.