Shingles Vaccination Side Effects Pros and Cons

Shingrix is a vaccine that protects you against this severe, long-term rash disease.

Anyone who has ever had Chickenpox will be at risk. Kistler states that this includes almost everyone over 50. According to the CDC, 99.5% of all people born prior to 1980 had Chickenpox. Many don’t even remember.

Kistler states that the vaccine does not prevent shingles in all people. Kistler says that if you do get the vaccine, your chances of getting shingles will be lower, and you’ll experience fewer complications. We want to avoid all the negative effects that can result from shingles.

Shingles Explained

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the virus that causes Shingles. It’s the same virus that causes Chickenpox. After you have recovered from Chickenpox, the virus is still present in your body. It lies dormant in your spinal cord or inactive in nerve tissue. The virus can remain silent for many years. It can also reactivate later in life as shingles.

Shingles blisters usually appear on one side of the body. Usually, it appears as a single area around the right or left torso. Itching, tingling, and burning can all be caused by shingles pain. It can also occur around the eyes and on the face. It can also cause vision loss if it affects the eyes.

The rash can spread to other parts of the body in some people, especially those with issues with their immune system. Rarely, it can lead to brain inflammation or death and hearing loss and pneumonia.

Kistler says that although these complications are rare, they can still occur due to the virus. The most common complication is postherpetic nervegia. This can last months or even years and can cause severe pain.

Who Should Get The Shingles Vaccine

It is recommended for adults over 50 years of age. However, the FDA approved Shingrix for those 18 years and older who have or will be at greater risk of shingles because of immunodeficiency. Shingrix is recommended for people who have had shingles before. You can have it more than once. Kistler states that vaccination reduces the risk of developing shingles again.

Duncan Isley, who was 45 when he developed shingles, got vaccinated. He said that the outbreak was mild compared to other stories. He doesn’t want it to happen again.

I had the typical torso rash back pain. Isley, now 53, lives in Durham, NC. He says it was a painful experience. I tell my friends to get vaccinated.

If you have an older Zostavax vaccine, Shingrix, it is a good idea to get vaccinated. This was pulled from the market in 2020. According to Kathleen Dooling MD, MPH (a medical officer and expert in shingles disease at the CDC), Zostavax’s protective properties diminish over time.

Zostavax protected shingles in the first year of vaccination. It prevented the disease about 60% of the time. She says that this percentage decreases over time, and it is not certain that the vaccine provides any protection.

Are you unsure if you received Shingrix or Zostavax after being vaccinated? Your timing of vaccination could be the key to your answer. The FDA approved Shingrix in October 2017. If Shingrix was not available, Zostavax would be. You can still ask your doctor if you aren’t sure. Shingrix is the only VZV vaccine that is currently available in the US.

Who Should Not Get The Shingles Vaccine

You might not need shingles vaccination in certain situations. If you have ever experienced a severe reaction to vaccines, Shingrix should be avoided. Anaphylaxis is a condition that causes severe breathing problems or swelling of the airway or mouth.

Shingrix should be avoided if you:

• Suppose you have an allergy to any part of the vaccine. These include gelatin or the antibiotic Neomycin. Before taking Shingrix, let your doctor know if you have any other allergies.
• You have shingles or another disease. The vaccine can be obtained when you are well.
• If you are pregnant or nursing, you should wait to get vaccinated.
• VZV, which causes Chickenpox, was not tested in your case. You are likely to have Chickenpox if you are older than 50. This is not something the CDC recommends. If you have not had this childhood illness, the CDC recommends that you get the chickenpox vaccination instead.

Talk to your doctor if you have any diseases or are taking medications that affect your immune systems.

Kistler states that it is an individual decision based on factors like each person’s particular medications and conditions in front of them. Shingrix is often a topic she discusses with her specialist doctors.

Dooling claims that Medicare data shows that vaccines are available to people with compromised immune systems. She said that the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have been studying Shingrix vaccination in this population and will issue further advice soon.

What Else Do You Need To Know About The Shingles Vaccine?

Are you ready to get vaccinated? Here’s the complete guide to how shots are administered, side effects and what to expect.

To get complete protection against shingles, you will need to take two doses. Your second dose should be taken between 2 and 6 months. The vaccine will be injected into your upper arm muscle by your pharmacist. Wear clothes that allow for easy access.

If it’s been over 6 months since your last dose, you can get your second dose. Dooling advises that you don’t have to start again.

Shingrix is still a new drug. Experts aren’t certain if you will need another shot or booster years later.

She says that the CDC is monitoring how protected people are after two doses. We know that protection is above 85% after four years. It will only be time to see how long-lasting this protection is.

There is no need to wait between the Shingrix vaccination and the COVID-19 vaccine. Although it is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the same dose as Shingrix, the CDC recommends administering them in separate arms. If you have COVID, you should not receive either vaccination.

Side effects can be quite common. Side effects are quite common.

Kistler says that shingles vaccines are more likely to cause side effects than other vaccines like the seasonal flu vaccine. This is what the shingles vaccine could cause:

• There will be redness and swelling at the injection site
• The injected arm may feel sore.
• Headache
• Shivering
• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Nausea

These side effects usually disappear within 2 to 3 days. Side effects can disrupt a person’s daily routine and affect 1 out 6 people. Martha Howard, 70, lives in Strawberry Plains.

“I had no side effects from my first shot. The second shot, however, was the most difficult. I received every one of the prescriptions they gave me. They were gone after three days, which made me feel pretty miserable,” Howard said.

Dooling suggests that side effects can be viewed as short-term pain in exchange for long-term gains. They are a sign that the immune system is being activated.

Her advice? After you have scheduled your shots, create a plan that will allow you to rest and recuperate if necessary. She says that you may feel more comfortable taking over-the-counter pain medication.

Your health insurance will determine the cost of Shingrix. According to Sean Clements (head of Vaccines Communications at GSK), Shingrix is covered by private insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Shingrix, which is covered by Medicare Part D, the program’s prescription drug plan, has out-of-network charges that are often low at $5 per shot.

Clements states that the out-of-pocket cost varies depending on the plan for Medicare Part D patients. However, an average of $50 per dose.

Shingrix may be available to you if you are uninsured but have not exceeded your Medicare Part D out of pocket spending limit. It all depends on your income. GSK For You provides additional information about the patient assistance program.

There is no shortage of the Shingrix vaccine. Your pharmacist or doctor might have told you that the vaccine was out of stock if you tried to get shingles vaccinations in 2018 or 2019.

Dooling claims that the supply has increased, and there is unlikely to be a shortage.

She says that shingles are a very effective and safe way to prevent the pain and other complications of shingles. This is a terrible disease that you don’t want. Ask anyone who has been through it if you are unsure.