Shingles vaccination

[rz]

I'm an adult who never had chicken pox as a child. We recently had a child. and to be safe, I went and got the chicken pox vaccine. This is NOT the same as the shingles vaccine. It's actually a series of two shots, and it is not a live vaccine. If you haven't had them as a child, and you get them as an adult, it can be fatal.

[Doc]

rz wrote: I went and got the chicken pox vaccine. This is NOT the same as the shingles vaccine. It's actually a series of two shots, and it is not a live vaccine.

The shingles vaccine is the same as the LIVE VACCINE for chickenpox. It is a weakened virus grown from the chickenpox virus that commonly infects children.

http://www.rxlist.com/zostavax-drug.htm

Adults and adolescents who have not previously been infected or inoculated get two shots of the LIVE chickenpox VACCINE because studies have shown that one dose of the LIVE VACCINE is seldom effective against chickenpox once a person approaches physical maturity.

More information than you need about the chickenpox vaccine:
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/795_chickpox.html

[freeradical]

Fred_Also wrote:
There's a pharmacy in my area that has been running ads on the radio that you can stop in and get the vaccine. They target the ad for senior citizens. (North Texas area)

The problem is I can't remember if I had chicken pox when I was a kid. I think I did but there is no one left to ask. I'm 67.

I wonder what the case is if you take the vaccine and haven't had chicken pox.

Fred Also

Maybe it's possible to have an antibody titer done for chicken pox.

[rgG]

freeradical wrote:
[quote=Fred_Also]
There's a pharmacy in my area that has been running ads on the radio that you can stop in and get the vaccine. They target the ad for senior citizens. (North Texas area)

The problem is I can't remember if I had chicken pox when I was a kid. I think I did but there is no one left to ask. I'm 67.

I wonder what the case is if you take the vaccine and haven't had chicken pox.

Fred Also

Maybe it's possible to have an antibody titer done for chicken pox.
It is. I was exposed to chickenpox as a child, but never developed overt symptoms. A few years ago I had some blood work done and I asked if they could also determine if I had the antibodies for chickenpox. They confirmed that I did have the antibodies for the varicella virus even though I never actually had the symptoms of chickenpox.

[Bo]

I had a very minor case of shingles last year at age 38 and boy what a strange/painful condition it was. Mine was about a 1" wide swatch on my lower neck and shot random excruciating pain down my left arm that seemed to have no relationship to any particular movement. Absolutely piercing pain. I cannot fathom what going through a severe case would be like. I was lucky and self diagnosed/got to my doctor within a day of the first symptoms, got on some medication and about three weeks later was totally fine.

If you are a candidate for vaccination, I highly recommend it!

-Bo

BTW I did have a minor case of chicken pox when younger.

[srf1957]

I had chicken pox twice the second time in 3rd grade the itching and
rash in groin area was extremely annoying.

[decay]

a friend of mine (early 40s, white) has gotten it - he was informed it can be brought on by stress as well. (or at least aggravated)

[decay]

edit

[Maddog]

Whether you have had chicken pox or shingles, it is likely that being vaccinated with this shot is worth it. The risks are low, but never zero. However, shingles is not fun at all and can result in chronic pain which is certainly worth avoiding if possible. I had a case of shingles and I am not 60 and my internal medicine doctor did recommend that I go ahead and get vaccinated. If you can afford this shot, do it!

[AllGold]

I got the chicken pox when I was 18. I know it can be very serious in adults but I must have been young enough that it wasn't a big deal, just very annoying.

It's kind of alarming that we get over the initial disease but the virus remains dormant in our bodies.

BTW, like Paul, I keep reading the subject wrong. I get the Shingles part right (not singles) but I swear every time I see the subject I initially read it as "Shingles vacation."