I've had shingles decades ago, no vaccine since. QUESTION:

[Anonymous]

DH has shingles now, is it contagious to me?

[Anonymous]

No you can’t catch shingles from him. He can pass on chicken pox to someone who hasn’t been vaccinated for CP or has a weak immune system.

[Anonymous]

No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

I have had shingles twice, and every doctor I have asked is unsure if I should get the vaccine, however DCUM is adamant that I get it. I am not anti-vaccine but have decided to wait for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

The older vaccine, Zostavax, was *much* less effective than Shingrix to the point where I can understand why a lot of Drs did not recommend it. Not only was Zostavax not that effective (~50%), its effects also waned very quickly (I work in academia in infectious disease research and have to stay up-to-date on reading through clinical trial evidence for antivirals and vaccines). The efficacy and effectiveness studies for Shingrix did show a significant benefit for adults even with prior shingles infection (>90%) as well as longer lasting benefits. It’s an “odd” virus because it never fully clears the body - it’s in the herpesvirus family so it stays latent (like other herpesviruses you’ve also heard of!). The vaccine boosts your immune defenses against subsequent reactivation.

It’s up to you, but if I were an adult 50+, I would absolutely get the newer vaccine to boost my immune system’s response to subsequent virus reactivation and would just plan ahead for side effects. I would not want a severe shingles flare-up in my 70s when there could be much worse outcomes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

[Anonymous]

Shingles, no. Chicken pox, potentially.

[Anonymous]

Whoever is trashing the older vaccine above. Please stop. All vaccines are close to 100% effective. There is no such thing as thing as a vaccine that’s only 50% effective, why would any pharma company even make such a thing!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

The older vaccine, Zostavax, was *much* less effective than Shingrix to the point where I can understand why a lot of Drs did not recommend it. Not only was Zostavax not that effective (~50%), its effects also waned very quickly (I work in academia in infectious disease research and have to stay up-to-date on reading through clinical trial evidence for antivirals and vaccines). The efficacy and effectiveness studies for Shingrix did show a significant benefit for adults even with prior shingles infection (>90%) as well as longer lasting benefits. It’s an “odd” virus because it never fully clears the body - it’s in the herpesvirus family so it stays latent (like other herpesviruses you’ve also heard of!). The vaccine boosts your immune defenses against subsequent reactivation.

It’s up to you, but if I were an adult 50+, I would absolutely get the newer vaccine to boost my immune system’s response to subsequent virus reactivation and would just plan ahead for side effects. I would not want a severe shingles flare-up in my 70s when there could be much worse outcomes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

Thanks, Academic!

Question: I received the first Shingrix shot 4 years ago and never followed up with the second. For protection, would one more shot be sufficient or would it be better to restart with the two shot regime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

I have had shingles twice, and every doctor I have asked is unsure if I should get the vaccine, however DCUM is adamant that I get it. I am not anti-vaccine but have decided to wait for now.

DP. Recommendations are not unclear.

Routine recommendations
People 50 years old and older.

CDC recommends 2 doses of Shingrix separated by 2–6 months for immunocompetent adults aged 50 years and older:

- Whether or not they report a prior episode of herpes zoster.

- Whether or not they report a prior dose of Zostavax, a shingles vaccine that is no longer available for use in the United States.

- It's not necessary to screen, either verbally or by laboratory serology, for evidence of prior varicella infection.

https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

The older vaccine, Zostavax, was *much* less effective than Shingrix to the point where I can understand why a lot of Drs did not recommend it. Not only was Zostavax not that effective (~50%), its effects also waned very quickly (I work in academia in infectious disease research and have to stay up-to-date on reading through clinical trial evidence for antivirals and vaccines). The efficacy and effectiveness studies for Shingrix did show a significant benefit for adults even with prior shingles infection (>90%) as well as longer lasting benefits. It’s an “odd” virus because it never fully clears the body - it’s in the herpesvirus family so it stays latent (like other herpesviruses you’ve also heard of!). The vaccine boosts your immune defenses against subsequent reactivation.

It’s up to you, but if I were an adult 50+, I would absolutely get the newer vaccine to boost my immune system’s response to subsequent virus reactivation and would just plan ahead for side effects. I would not want a severe shingles flare-up in my 70s when there could be much worse outcomes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

Thanks, Academic!

Question: I received the first Shingrix shot 4 years ago and never followed up with the second. For protection, would one more shot be sufficient
or would it be better to restart with the two shot regime?

DP, and again from link above:

If more than 6 months elapsed since first dose‎

Administer the second dose as soon as possible. Do not restart the vaccine series.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

The older vaccine, Zostavax, was *much* less effective than Shingrix to the point where I can understand why a lot of Drs did not recommend it. Not only was Zostavax not that effective (~50%), its effects also waned very quickly (I work in academia in infectious disease research and have to stay up-to-date on reading through clinical trial evidence for antivirals and vaccines). The efficacy and effectiveness studies for Shingrix did show a significant benefit for adults even with prior shingles infection (>90%) as well as longer lasting benefits. It’s an “odd” virus because it never fully clears the body - it’s in the herpesvirus family so it stays latent (like other herpesviruses you’ve also heard of!). The vaccine boosts your immune defenses against subsequent reactivation.

It’s up to you, but if I were an adult 50+, I would absolutely get the newer vaccine to boost my immune system’s response to subsequent virus reactivation and would just plan ahead for side effects. I would not want a severe shingles flare-up in my 70s when there could be much worse outcomes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

Yep. He had the Zostavax- and here he is with shingles.

Yeah, I will go ahead and get the Shingrex. Pretty worried though.
Thanks for the explanation! Very informative.

[Anonymous]

If you’ve never had chicken pox or herpes and neither of your kids have had it, can you get shingles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Your case of shingles would be determined by whether or not the dormant virus reactivates within your own body (stress, sleep deprivation, and aging can all contribute to elevated risk).

It’s a good question bc shingles is an “odd” virus that way; many people do not understand it!

Depending on your age, you might want to consider getting the shingles vaccine since cases of shingles can recur. Shingrix, the vaccine, has unpleasant side effects but it is extremely effective.

It is effective , but will it mitigate my current dormant infection or just any new ones?
Interestingly enough, DH got the older shingles shot ( the one before Shingrex)- and here he is, but this is a very milder atypically presented case. But, they did stop manufacturing that vax.

The older vaccine, Zostavax, was *much* less effective than Shingrix to the point where I can understand why a lot of Drs did not recommend it. Not only was Zostavax not that effective (~50%), its effects also waned very quickly (I work in academia in infectious disease research and have to stay up-to-date on reading through clinical trial evidence for antivirals and vaccines). The efficacy and effectiveness studies for Shingrix did show a significant benefit for adults even with prior shingles infection (>90%) as well as longer lasting benefits. It’s an “odd” virus because it never fully clears the body - it’s in the herpesvirus family so it stays latent (like other herpesviruses you’ve also heard of!). The vaccine boosts your immune defenses against subsequent reactivation.

It’s up to you, but if I were an adult 50+, I would absolutely get the newer vaccine to boost my immune system’s response to subsequent virus reactivation and would just plan ahead for side effects. I would not want a severe shingles flare-up in my 70s when there could be much worse outcomes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054

Thanks, Academic!

Question: I received the first Shingrix shot 4 years ago and never followed up with the second. For protection, would one more shot be sufficient or would it be better to restart with the two shot regime?

I did this too. Been a year since dose #1. My doctor said yesterday that I should absolutely go back for another so I guess I’ll do that Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’ve never had chicken pox or herpes and neither of your kids have had it, can you get shingles?

Depends on if you actually never had it. It can be very mild, with only a few lesions that could be missed, especially in children. About 90% of unvaccinated close contacts will contract the disease if exposed.

Did you receive two vaccinations appropriately spaced? In what years, and what country?