Shingles

I finally felt back to "my normal" yesterday, TillyTrotter. Thank you for asking. x

I hope you are feeling better today Sparkfizz ? 💐
It really is a powerful vaccine.

Garlic does have a good reputation for pain relief I believe.

Inconvenient sleeping with a partner who treats their shingles with it though. Perhaps a peg would come in handy. .

Does anyone know which of the two is the oldest?

A friend's husband has severe shingles. She read about putting crushed garlic on the blisters and tried it on him with very good results. It took 50 to 70% of the pain away!

In England Nhs are using up supplies Zostavax (the 1 shot vaccine) and then everyone eligible will get Shingrix (2 shots).

Vulnerable patients will be offered Shingrix immediately as their health conditions make the Zostavax vaccine unsuitable for them.

foxie48

Just to clarify, there are two different vaccines.
Zostavax is a live vaccine, one dose only but unsuitable for anyone who has a weakened immune system.
Shingrix is not a live vaccine and requires two shots, the time between them will depend on personal circumstances and the GP or nurse who does the jab will tell you when to have the second one.

It depends where you live.
I was told by the clinician who vaccinated me, that in Scotland they will now be using Shingrix for everyone.

Just to clarify, there are two different vaccines.
Zostavax is a live vaccine, one dose only but unsuitable for anyone who has a weakened immune system.
Shingrix is not a live vaccine and requires two shots, the time between them will depend on personal circumstances and the GP or nurse who does the jab will tell you when to have the second one.

Oh dear Marydoll. That sounds horrible. Hope you get on ok on Sunday.

I forgot to mention that my glands have also swollen up. Sigh. Shingrix is one powerful vax (but obviously much better than having Shingles. My Mum said it was worse than childbirth!)

Fortunately I'm not doing anything special over Easter but have quite a busy time next week and hope to be back to what is my "normal" by then.

Oh dear!
I had a week of awful symptoms after my first one. Stomach upset, nausea and vertigo. My RA flared up too. I am certainly not looking forward to Sunday. Howeevr, I always have severe reactions to jabs!

Well, I had a horrible reaction last night to my 1st Shingrix jab. My arm became much more painful, but ok, I could handle that..... but then I developed pain from head to foot, even in my toes. I do have M.E. and Fibromyalgia plus Osteoporosis so maybe the vax was a trigger. I have a good tolerance to pain, having had so much of it over the years, but last night was quite miserable.

This morning I can hardly use my arm but thankfully the overall body pain has gone.

Not looking forward to having the 2nd jab which people say is worse.

midgey

I didn’t know that there were two vaccinations for shingles, I have only had one.

I didn’t either. We both had a vaccination when we turned 70 so 10 years ago and were told it was a one off vaccination, obviously things have changed.

RinseAndRepeat

@MaryDoll. The guidance given to GPs in England is as below. The manufacturer and other international heath service providers appear to have policies that all second doses should be within the 2 to 6 month period.

This is from NHS Inform (Scotland).

How many doses of the vaccine do I need?
You need to have 2 doses of the shingles vaccine for it to be effective.
You’ll be offered your second dose 2 to 12 months after your first dose.

I am glad I live in Scotland!
My GP told me that GPSs in Scotland cannot give Shingles vaccines, they are organised at national level, as part of a vaccination programme.

I cannot start urgent new biologic treatment, until four weeks after my second dose, so a two month gap is perfect for me.
This treatment will make me severely immunocompromised, the last thing I need is shingles.

@MaryDoll. The guidance given to GPs in England is as below. The manufacturer and other international heath service providers appear to have policies that all second doses should be within the 2 to 6 month period.

RinseAndRepeat

Sparklefizz

I was definitely given the wrong advice by the nurse yesterday when I went for my Shingles vax. This is from the Gov.UK website:

*Shingrix® requires a 2-dose schedule, with the second dose administered from 2 months (and ideally within 6 months) following the first dose*

The NHS has adopted a different policy to what is stated in the UK Govt document: it has decided to administer the second dose in the period 6 to 12 months.

I am puzzled at the information you have posted, RinseAndRepeat.
I will receive my second dose on Easter Sunday and I received my initial dose on 31st January.
That is only a gap of two months.

TillyTrotter Thank you

I had the Shingrix vax last year, two sessions three months apart. I was using a strong prescription cream for pre-cancerous skin lesions at the time so was advised to have the Shingrix vax. No side effects except for a slightly sore arm after the first injection.

Sparklefizz

I was definitely given the wrong advice by the nurse yesterday when I went for my Shingles vax. This is from the Gov.UK website:

*Shingrix® requires a 2-dose schedule, with the second dose administered from 2 months (and ideally within 6 months) following the first dose*

The NHS has adopted a different policy to what is stated in the UK Govt document: it has decided to administer the second dose in the period 6 to 12 months.

In the U.K. this is the Supplier

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/12054/smpc#companyDetails

Could anyone tell me where their vaccine is made please. My local pharmacy has being trying to get hold of one for me but is seems unavailable for the passed couple of years here in France. Thank you.

The older vaccine, only needs one dose.
The new one, Shringrix, is not a live vaccine vaccine and needs two doses.
People who are immunocompromised could not have the previous vaccine.

I had mine on the NHS when I turned 70 (last February), no mention of having to have another one

I was definitely given the wrong advice by the nurse yesterday when I went for my Shingles vax. This is from the Gov.UK website:

Shingrix® requires a 2-dose schedule, with the second dose administered from 2 months (and ideally within 6 months) following the first dose

Oh Dear! Quote/ individuals who have received Zostavax® previously should not be revaccinated with Shingrix® /unquote. So it appears I will not be eligible.

Allex50

Our surgery do not give Shingrix unless there is a specific need (NHS). Anyone know about this?

The UK Gov policy was changed last year:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/shingles-vaccination-programme-changes-from-september-2023-letter/introduction-of-shingrix-vaccine-for-the-whole-programme-and-expansion-of-eligible-cohorts-letter#:~:text=Shingrix%C2%AE%2520will%2520be%2520offered%2520to%2520those%2520turning%252065%2520and,eligible%2520until%2520their%252080th%2520birthday.

My first vax was four months ago, so not a six month gap.