Covid & Shingles is there a link?

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.

Mainly I ignored it because it was mild.

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

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?

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.

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

nanna8

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

Link doesn't work nanna8.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Thanks Maybee. I think that is very sound advice.

Horrendous isnt it?
And to think I encouraged my adult children and partners to keep up with their vac. and boosters.
I feel the scales have dropped for me.

I looked up the Florida "advice against mRNA vaccine for young men" thing. It's based on flawed methodology, the reasons to doubt it are too many to list here. If Deepti Gurdasani thinks you are overreacting, it's pretty safe to assume you are overreacting.

twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1579045206170615809

Questioning things is good. None of us should just accept what we are told without question. But sometimes understanding the answers you get requires a bit of specialist knowledge. Promoting this mRNA thing as meaning that "Florida are advising young men not to take the vaccines" is dangerous. I'm making assumptions here but I think that Namsnanny is taking it as further evidence for a plot or something about taking vaccines.

Do the UK authorities always get it right? No. Does some conspiracy-theory-supporting guy in Florida get it right? Rarely.

Nullius in verba. Even if it supports your preconceptions. Especially if it supports your preconceptions.

I don’t really know what to believe any more to be honest. The younger members of my family have all had covid and are not going to have boosters. My youngest grandchildren haven’t been vaccinated. My eldest grandson has a needle phobia and had to be held down to have his vaccinations which has obviously made it even worse. Because I’m old I shall continue to be vaccinated but don’t know what I’d advise young people to do. As my grandson said to me the other day, ‘ no one talks about it any more; it’s as if it didn’t exist’.

I don’t really know what to believe any more to be honest.

Covid vaccines have saved 20 million lives around the world. My advice - believe that.

Tell them to have what they are offered. Otherwise we'll have a resurgence in the incidence of the illness, and we'll all start talking about it again.

I don’t always agree with Volver but she is absolutely right on this. Look at the panic over MMR and the increase in measles cases, based on false and unsubstantiated claims. As so many are saying, shingles is horrible, and I paid to have the vaccination when DH was so I’ll because I knew I couldn’t afford to be laid low.

I believe volver is correct on this. If people start to avoid the vaccinations in large numbers we will inevitably have a resurgence of serious Covid. It is always a good thing to question government on various issues, but on this issue I trust our government to act in my/our best interests. I think people who peddle conspiracy on vaccines or try to put people off having vaccinations are irresponsible in the extreme. And I count any Gransnetters who engage in this behaviour as such.

I must point out that one is advising the over 50’s to not have the vaccine.

A lot of people don’t seem to realise how important it is to have a pneumonia vaccine. I’m having one next week because the one I had a couple of years ago doesn’t cover me for some pneumonias. You only need one every ten years or so.

How (very)dare you put words into my mouth Volver? As Catherine Tate might have said??

Any attention is better than none eh??

MayBee70

I must point out that one is advising the over 50’s to not have the vaccine.

Right, this is a case in point.

Who is "one"?
Why are they advising this?
What evidence are the using?
Are they advising them not to have any vaccine?
Or just the COVID one?
Or just a particular COVID one?

This statement is meaningless and dangerous, because it sows doubt in people's minds about getting vaccinated, but doesn't use any evidence or facts to base the assertion on. Its wrong to do that and its unfair.

But MayBee if large numbers of people, possibly younger people, begin to avoid Covid vaccinations, it is very likely that there will be a large resurgence, and that may well result in more hospital admissions and more deaths. And some of those cases will be older people, despite their vaccinations, because the vaccinations are not 100% protective. In any case, more hospital admittances will certainly mean cancellations of operations and other treatments.

volver

MayBee70

I must point out that one is advising the over 50’s to not have the vaccine.

Right, this is a case in point.

Who is "one"?
Why are they advising this?
What evidence are the using?
Are they advising them not to have any vaccine?
Or just the COVID one?
Or just a particular COVID one?

This statement is meaningless and dangerous, because it sows doubt in people's minds about getting vaccinated, but doesn't use any evidence or facts to base the assertion on. Its wrong to do that and its unfair.

Spelling error. I meant no one. Apologies.