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Shingles Jab

(41 Posts)
purplehead Wed 26-Oct-22 10:49:50

Can I get some feedback on the shingles jab.
Have you had the jab
Did you have any reaction to it
Do you think it is something we really should have if offered
Have you had shingles and if so how bad was it

I am unsure what to do about having this

NotSpaghetti Wed 26-Oct-22 10:50:36

There was another thread about this lady week I think...

FannyCornforth Wed 26-Oct-22 10:55:50

Have it

Juliet27 Wed 26-Oct-22 10:56:51

In case you don’t see the other thread…yes, I’ve had the jab with no reaction. I see no reason not to make the most of the offer.

tanith Wed 26-Oct-22 10:57:12

I had it 2 yrs ago no side effects.

FannyCornforth Wed 26-Oct-22 10:58:04

www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1316982-Shingles-jab

Grandma70s Wed 26-Oct-22 10:59:28

I had it the moment I was eligible. No side effects at all. Shingles is not nice.

Chardy Wed 26-Oct-22 11:33:55

I had it a few weeks ago - recommended by a friend whose husband has had shingles, which was awful - as all over-70s are entitled to.
No problems at all.

ExDancer Wed 26-Oct-22 11:42:29

I've had shingles, twice, its horrid. So I had the jab when it was offered with no side effects.
You do not want to catch shingles. You can pass it on to children as chicken pox, and expectant Mums won't thank you for it either.

FannyCornforth Wed 26-Oct-22 11:46:13

My dad was very ill with it.
He said that it felt like his face had been burnt.

LadyGracie Wed 26-Oct-22 14:37:35

I had the jab with no side effects. DH had shingles a couple of years ago, thankfully mildly.

grannyqueenie Wed 26-Oct-22 15:08:12

No ill effects for me either. I’d certainly want to avoid shingles it’s a very nasty virus

dogsmother Wed 26-Oct-22 15:23:10

Shingles is dreadful! I’m hoping I’m immune as I am to chicken pox, some people carry the herpes virus and others don’t. I think it’s all relevant.

Septimia Wed 26-Oct-22 15:24:28

DH and I had the shingles jab in one arm and the pneumonia one in the other with no adverse effects. Of course, everyone is different, but I agree that it's worthwhile to avoid getting shingles.

Grannybags Wed 26-Oct-22 15:52:58

I’m pleased to see all these answers - I’m having mine in an hour’s time!

Farzanah Wed 26-Oct-22 16:00:15

I was just wondering digsmother have you had a test to see if you are immune to chickenpox?

Most people in an older age group have immunity from chickenpox because they have contracted it in childhood. The varicella zoster virus then remains in the nervous system until it can reactivate as shingles in later life as the immune system wanes. There is I believe around a 1 in 4 chance of shingles in later life if you have had chickenpox pox. The vaccine is therefore well worth it in my view.

Katyj Wed 26-Oct-22 16:17:54

So if you haven’t had chicken pox then you don't need the shingles jab ? I’ve never had them, I didn’t catch them off my DC or DGC either so presume I’m immune.

Forsythia Wed 26-Oct-22 16:21:50

I’m not old enough to get the jab but if I was I’d jump at it. I’ve had shingles twice and it is the most painful awful thing I’d ever had and I’ve had radiotherapy in the past. I had it on my chest, it lasted for a while and I couldn’t sleep. In the end I was given acuclovir tablets but was probably too late. A hateful illness.

veejay Wed 26-Oct-22 16:24:43

I have had chickenpox.and got shingles 3 years ago.it's very painful.
I am quite annoyed that I didn't even know there was a shingles vax
Also you can suffer pain from it for a long time afterwards

Farzanah Wed 26-Oct-22 16:36:58

Problem is Katyj some can have chickenpox so mildly they don’t know they have it.

Katyj Wed 26-Oct-22 17:38:44

Farzanah. Probably best to have the jab then to make sure.

purplehead Wed 26-Oct-22 18:01:30

Thanks for all the feedback.
I am going to go ahead with the jab now.

JackyB Wed 26-Oct-22 20:14:55

I asked for it last week when I went to the doctor's for a checkup. There were dozens of adverts on the internet entreating older people to have them. I was given it there and then, no effects so far. Judging by the comments so far on this thread, you shouldn't have any problems.

veejay Wed 26-Oct-22 20:48:39

I think you have to be a certain age to have it,like 70 and then 78 or something

Oldbat1 Thu 10-Nov-22 22:18:24

I had my shingles injection yesterday. I hardly felt it. No sore arm or any other side effects.