Flu jab

I’m sure plenty of patients were grateful that you had the foresight to order the shingles medication MayBe70

There is viral and non viral pneumonia and the vaccine only helps with one of them unfortunately.

My dad died of pneumonia and I asked the Dr why as he was vaccinated. Apparently there are hundreds of different strains same as flu, so protection is limited. Flu vaccine is only 30% - 60%

JenniferEccles

I’ve just looked up the name of the anti viral. It’s Aciclovir. There are others apparently but that’s the one most commonly used. I’m going to make a note of it just in case as speed is of the essence.

The rash in your mouth must be so uncomfortable. I’m pleased you managed to take the medication in time. I hope it helps.
Well done your dentist, and you for being assertive!

When I worked at a surgery I always made sure we kept some on the shelf because of the importance of taking it asap ( I used to get into trouble over it as it is quite expensive and it sometimes expired as we didn’t need it very often). Of course these days the problem is getting to see a doctor to prescribe it!

Thanks @Kate1949, that answered my question. A friend recently had a severe bout of shingles not long after having the first jab so I was starting to worry, as mine was a few years back.

I’ve just looked up the name of the anti viral. It’s Aciclovir. There are others apparently but that’s the one most commonly used. I’m going to make a note of it just in case as speed is of the essence.

The rash in your mouth must be so uncomfortable. I’m pleased you managed to take the medication in time. I hope it helps.
Well done your dentist, and you for being assertive!

That's a really good helpful dentist.

Yes, JenniferEccles, you need to take the antivirals within the first 72 hours. I got an emergency appointment with my dentist because the Shingles gave me toothache in all my top teeth on one side, so I thought I had a bad dental problem. When she looked in my mouth, she saw the rash on the roof of my mouth. She took x-rays just to make sure the teeth were all ok, which they were, and then she sent me straight off to the doctor for a prescription for antivirals.

The receptionist said she couldn't give me an appointment for 3 days, but the dentist had given me strict instructions to be assertive to get those antivirals in time, so I said I would sit there and wait because all I needed was the prescription and the dentist had typed up a report giving the diagnosis to hand over.

I'm eternally grateful to my dentist for her speedy diagnosis as apparently it's quite rare to have Shingles in one's mouth.

Oh my goodness Sparklefizz that’s really bad luck. How awful for you.
You did everything you could to avoid the misery of shingles only to get it after you should have been protected by the vaccine.

Isn’t there an anti-viral medication which it’s said can lessen the effects of shingles? I believe though that it has to be administered within a couple of days of the first symptoms.

I hope you make a good recovery.

JenniferEccles

I had read several articles about how much more effective the newer Shingrix vaccine is compared with the older, one dose one, so I enquired about having it done at our surgery.

As most people probably know, we have to be within certain age groups be eligible for it on the NHS. It turned out I wasn’t so I paid to have the two Shingrix jabs at a pharmacy.

Shingles, as anyone who has had it knows, is such a horrible thing, that to me, the vaccines were worth every penny.

I had the 2 Shingrix vaccines for Shingles .... and 6 weeks after the last jab, I developed Shingles in my mouth and Trigeminal Nerve on one side of my face. It has left me with Tinnitus and hearing loss in one ear.

Sounds like it’s another thing I’m going to have to pay for. I don’t understand why the shingles vaccine is staggered given how debilitating shingles is. I know I’m a bit paranoid about it but my mum died soon after having shingles ( she was only 69 and at the time I had no idea how ill shingles made you) and a dear friend of mine developed Alzheimer’s after suffering from a particularly bad bout of shingles and I’ve always felt there was a link. Imo it’s a false economy not vaccinating everybody.

I had read several articles about how much more effective the newer Shingrix vaccine is compared with the older, one dose one, so I enquired about having it done at our surgery.

As most people probably know, we have to be within certain age groups be eligible for it on the NHS. It turned out I wasn’t so I paid to have the two Shingrix jabs at a pharmacy.

Shingles, as anyone who has had it knows, is such a horrible thing, that to me, the vaccines were worth every penny.

butterandjam

Kate1949

BlueBelle. I had my shingles jabs last year. We now need two. My husband had his years ago and I asked the nurse if he should have another. She said it wasn't necessary.

In the last few years the NHS changed the type of shingles vaccine it offers.

Your husband probably received the old one, Zostavax, which was a single dose. (so did DH and I). It's now withdrawn.

The current NHS vaccine used is Shingrix, requires two doses. The protection provided is higher than Zostavax.

Thanks for that info. I have had the old shingles vaccine but am going to ask for the new one which sounds much more effective.

We had the shingles and pneumonia vaccinations soon after turning 70, we are 82 now. We haven’t been offered the RSV vaccination but if I am offered it I will not take it as there is a danger of Gullain Barre Syndrome which I have had twice and would not want to run the risk of getting it again as it is not pleasant.

I had the pneumonia jab. Two months later I got ill with pneumonia. It was mycoplasma pneumonia so the vax did not help. There are so many mutations and variants

Gosh. A GP who phoned you!
Well the new Shingles jab is a two parter. I'll cope. Well worth it to avoid shingles.

Thanks Kate yes I only had one shingles jab 10 years ago I remember clearly as I had the pneumonia in one arm and shingles in the other
So they both last for ever then that’s good news

My GP rang me to say "Good news! You're 70 and you can have the shingles jab" I knew what he meant, but I wasn't sure about any sort of injection being "good news"

When the owner of a boarding Cattery, I had a top up tetanus jab. I wasn’t very young so imagine that it will last me out.

I’m not sure the pneumonia jab DOES last for life. For medical reasons I was given it when I was in my mid thirties and my continual chest infections became a thing of the past. Last year, now in my 70s, I had two bouts of pneumonia, so I was given a 2nd jab. I recently paid £95 to have the Covid vax as I’m not yet 75.

From a vaguely neutral position I have become a bit of a vaxxaholic after being lambasted by a virulent anti vaxxer up the road for wearing a mask during covid.
Those who can't get shingles or RSV jabs
Could you afford to pay to have them?
I think it's money well spent.
Perhaps start an Xmas fund? Like GoFundMe to be vaxxed ...

Ive not had any vaccines since I was at school

Over 80s not eligible for RSV jabs, apparently because not enough of that age group volunteered for trials. DH not happy, understands though. Hope he doesn't catch it, or however it spreads.

knspol. It's only this new vaccine that requires two.

Ì have had the flu jab for decades as I am asthmatic. I had the pneumonia vaccine around fifteen years ago, too. My husband had a different flu jab from mine because he is over 65 and I am under. The eligible age for the shingles vaccine was reduced from seventy to 65 two years ago - for those born on or after September 1st 1958. My husband was born in July of that year. At this rate, I could well have it before he does.