Shingles jab

I went to get a shingles jab but the nurse said I couldn’t have it as I was too young. I think if you have an ostomy bag then as it could be difficult getting a bag to stick if you caught shingles then a jab should be given if requested by the patient? Anyone any thoughts on this or is it just me being paranoid? Uk

You can get shingles if you're susceptible (it's common in my family, for example) or if your immune system is very weak. Then you're often a bit older, but there have also been people who got shingles after their COVID vaccination. In the Netherlands, you can now get a shingles vaccination if you're 50 or older. We have to pay for it ourselves until 2027. A new law will be in effect in 2027, and it will be covered here. So I'll wait until 2027, and then I'll get those two shots. It's very common in my family. Shingles doesn't always appear on your stomach or back; it can also appear on your head or face.

No idea about the health care system there but as a matter of general policy... I think people should be able to get the vaccines they feel they need. Here I can get the vaccines recommended for my age and health risk status at any pharmacy. If I fall outside those parameters, I assume I might still get at least some vaccines by jumping through an additional hoop like getting a specific order from my doctor.

Failing both of these I would be out of luck. And it would not make me happy.

I got mine after I had an outbreak. I did not think there was an age limit. How old do you have to be? I am a little older then you.

Hi. I am 57 and get all covid jabs, flu jabs and my shingles jabs but that's only because I'm immuno suppressed with my Rheumatoid Arthritis injections.

Up to last year my wife who is my carer could also get the covid jab but they've stopped that now.

I also believe that anybody who feels they should have these jabs should be able to get them.

I cross everything that you don't get shingles. I've seen it in both my parents and brother-in-law.. horrid thing..

Tony

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

I wouldn't say your paranoid. Your just thinking of the future and trying to prevent problems. I'm sure you already know the UK age restrictions for having it, and if you have a weakened immune system. If I could have I would more because I saw how much pain my mom was in when she had on her face and she always had nerve pain after having it.

Hi Helen,

Here in the States the FDA has not approved the shingles vaccine for adults under the age of 50 unless they have a weakened or compromised immune system. The reason for that is simple........the risk and severity of shingles significantly increase with age.....and the vaccine was designed for those two groups of people only......those over 50 or those under 50 with a weakened immune system. For that reason the vaccine wasn't properly safety tested for anyone outside of those two groups.....meaning no large scale clinical trials were conducted on people under 50 with healty immune systems. So with shingles being much less common and less severe in those under 50, there's just no public health reason to warrant the vaccine to those who don't need it.

Hmm........I wonder why they didn't do that with the COVID vaccine.............hmmmm.

So as the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld would say........No vaccine for you!!!

https://youtu.be/RqlQYBcsq54

;O)

It's one that I plan to get. I was reading that Shingrix has benefits other than just shingles. I'll have to look for the article when I get a minute.

Here in B.C., the Shingles vaccine is available to anyone who wants it, but is free of charge only to people 60 and over. Can you not get it if you are willing to pay for it? I would definitely recommend it. I've known several people who have suffered terribly from Shingles.

Terry

Thanks I think I may just get the jab privately if I can’t persuade my stoma nurse 🙂 £460 in Boots

I've just had a check with Google.. apparently the cost of the two shots for shingles to the under 50's here in the UK is a staggering £440 - £480 😳😳😳😳

Wow... I'm gobsmacked..

It’s disgusting as they have changed the criteria I just missed out of a free one. It seems some countries get it at age 50.

That's price really shocked me.. I was thinking it might be £50-£60 at most..

Sorry that you're not entitled to it.

I guess the best thing to do is just be cautious about who you are around..

I was shielding till a couple of months ago and even now I'm very careful about who I go visit. But I'm on immuno suppressants..

I hope you are OK and that you are safe and well.

Use your judgement for the environment you're in.

Tony

I don't know about the age thing, but I had my first episode with shingles when I was ~15. The second time came at 70. It was then that I got the vaccine(s). Had I been better aware, I would have got it a lot earlier than I did and maybe wouldn't have got it the second time.

Daniel

Also, can remain for ever dormant within the system .... esp. if one has had chickenpox ..... even mildly ....

Yes. Basically most people are at risk. Risk-benefit calculation is based on averages and doesn't take individual variability into account.

For a vaccine like Shingles where the only intent is to protect the individual, the individual should have a say.

They absolutely did risk-benefit assessments for the COVID vaccines. You just didn't like the result. Now you know how the OP feels.