Anyone like me and at 66 have to wait until 70 for a shingles vacination?

I had mine done when I was 70, because grandchildren were very young. Having had chickenpox as a 6 year old, Queen Elizabeth II's coronation day, me first in the morning, elder sister in the afternoon. I now wish I hadn't, because it seems to have kickstarted the herpes virus and since being vaccinated I am prone to nasty cold sores on my mouth. So I would caution you to do your research first and make your decision based on knowledge

kittylester

I only had one jab grannyqueenie

Me too.

The NHS adds one year at a time. They could say "everyone from 69" this year and then next year issue new 'rules' saying eveyrone "from 68". But they consider it easier to say "as you reach 65" for five years and then in 2028 they will advertise "as you reach 60".
Why one year at a time? Guesswork: lack of supplies (only one manufacturer is allowed to make Shingrix); don't flood GPs and, yes, as mentioned, spreads the cost. The new Shingrix is about 4 times more expensive than the older Zostavax.

maddyone

kittylester

I only had one jab grannyqueenie

Me too.

And me

Additionally I waited until this year when I reached 70. I wish people would stop complaining and be glad they will be offered a vaccine in due course.

Anyone else as cynical as I am at 67 yrs, thinking it's no coincidence that those of us having to wait longer also had to wait longer for our pensions? Waspi women being punished for trying to kick up a fuss about lack of info regarding the delay of pensions? Not all Waspi of course, but a significant number.

Although my gp has written a prescription, in France it is not available at the pharmacy, unless I pay for it privately.

My surgery nurse produced a chart saying it is calculated on your actual birthday. She said it was a ridiculously complicated way of calculating when you are eligible. I will be 3 moths off my 70th birthday. Shingles can be an awful disease & you would think the price of vaccinating would be much less than treating anyone who gets it?

Nobody is waiting longer for their shingles vaccine. It has traditionally been given at 70 but the government is bringing the time the vaccine is given forward, to 65. But gradually.

MarianNicholson

The NHS adds one year at a time. They could say "everyone from 69" this year and then next year issue new 'rules' saying eveyrone "from 68". But they consider it easier to say "as you reach 65" for five years and then in 2028 they will advertise "as you reach 60".
Why one year at a time? Guesswork: lack of supplies (only one manufacturer is allowed to make Shingrix); don't flood GPs and, yes, as mentioned, spreads the cost. The new Shingrix is about 4 times more expensive than the older Zostavax.

It would make more sense to me if they went for the older age group first though.
As regards the research trial the "over 50" element is interesting, there must be chunks of the age range who have been vaccinated relatively recently so they may not get an even age spread. Or maybe it is to test the group to see how long immunity lasts? I think someone suggested it was seven years, so the five year immunisation versus a placebo would give them some idea.

maddyone

Nobody is waiting longer for their shingles vaccine. It has traditionally been given at 70 but the government is bringing the time the vaccine is given forward, to 65. But gradually.

Tough if you're 66 though!

Zostavax ia one jab...Shingrix is 2 with a gap of a few months between the 2.

It makes no sense to me, given that shingles is so debilitating. Why don’t they just give it to everyone? Will the chicken pox vaccine for children that they’re now talking about prevent people from getting shingles in later life?

greenlady102

cc

I just looked at the Boots site and they seem to think that you need two doses - odd since the NHS only give you one? I don't understand why it is so expensive either.
They're talking about giving children the chicken pox vaccine now and I've always understook that you only get shingles if you've had chicken pox, so not sure if the CP vaccine would mean you could get shingles?
I also had shingles years ago and had been trying for years to be vaccinated but they do certainly have weird rules about age. Finally had it last year aged 70. None of this makes sense to me really, it's always seemed to make more sense to vaccinate anybody who was willing.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/paediatrics/jcvi-recommends-chickenpox-vaccine-for-all-children/#:~:text=The%20Joint%20Committee%20on%20Vaccination,and%2018%20months%20of%20age.

Interesting link, thank you.
I had chicken pox as a child, my four children caught it just after I'd had my last baby and I had shingles at the same time, presumably because I was immunosupressed. The link suggests that chicken pox can be serious for young babies, but mine (breast fed) had just one tiny spot and was not ill at all. She's never caught it again so we assume she really did have it.

My husband was 65 on 25th August but will have to wait until he’s 70. If he had been born a week later, he’d have been eligible! I’ve just had my 63rd birthday so I will get the jab 3 years before he does despite being two years younger than him! Doesn’t make sense. If it is down to cost and availability they should vaccinate all 69 year olds first and bring it down to 65 gradually.

All this angst being expressed about shingles vaccination will be causing a shingles epidemic! If you've had chickenpox, stress is one of the triggers that can cause shingles. Deep breaths....and relax.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202311/medium-930524-img-20231116-132224-hdr.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202311/medium-829667-img-20231116-131935-hdr-edit-1700141306435.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202311/medium-154300-img-20231116-130729-hdr-edit-1700141205457.jpg

I'm currently re-reading Greek Myths by Robert Graves (1955) so if you're unsure who Sisyphus was (very relevant post by welbeck near the beginning of this thread), here's some info from the book. It's a good read, having very short passages about individual Greek gods, heroes and villains, so you don't have to read whole chapters before you can put it down! The gods and others, Sisyphus included, do an awful lot of seducing and ravishing of virgins, so be warned, but he doesn't make that detailed or sensational!

My husband was 65 in July but is ineligible because only those aged 65 whose birthdays are from September 1st onwards can get it. When the original vaccine was brought in for 70 year olds came in, my mother missed out by about six months and didn’t get it until she was nearly 80

The NHS explainer page (mind you I just ended up more confused - thought I'd had it but it turns out there are 2 doses,,, ) www.gov.uk/government/publications/shingles-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait/why-you-may-have-to-wait-for-your-shingles-vaccine#:~:text=your%2Dshingles%2Dvaccine-,Shingles%20vaccination%20programme,offered%20vaccination%20(in%202028).

I don’t know who dreams up these new‘systems’ of administering vaccines, but they need a good talking to!!!
I turned 66 in February so just got state pension ( waspi) and knowing how my sister suffered with shingles when she was about my age I decided to enquire about the jab.
I couldn’t believe it when they tried to explain this new system and to be fair the nursing staff and receptionists didn’t understand it either. As someone has said already why don’t they just pick an age like 68 for eg and say anyone over that age can have it? Regardless of what month you were born etc. its a ridiculous situation.

I'm 73 and never been offered the shingles vaccine. I wish I had because I had a really bad dose of shingles a few years ago. One of the most painful things ever - up there with hall stones, childbirth etc. In my opinion. So if you're offered the vaccination - go for it.

Oops ..meant GALL STONES obviously!

Very confusing and ridiculous.

I have been lucky to have mine, I was 65 on 7th September and the guidelines are that you have to turn 65yrs after 1/9/2023.

Even though eligible as a 65 year old I have just been told firmly by my surgery that they are not vaccinating anyone before they are 70 and I will have to wait for a letter in five years time to be invited. Very misleading advertising campaign. Obviously each surgery will make the decision for themselves.