Very good reason to get your Shingrix vaccine as soon as you are eligible!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had shingles twice and have looked but found no research on whether it makes sense to get the vaccine. Clearly I already carry the virus.

My cousin had lingering symptoms from a shingles case that flared up sometimes. She says getting shringix actually made these go away.

Everyone who has had chicken pox has had the virus, so that's not the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard the same thing and my brain immediately screamed correlation is not causation.

“It’s unclear exactly how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk. It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain or involve other mechanisms. It’s important to note that this study looked at the Zostavax vaccine rather than Shingrix, which is now more commonly used.

Not true, there have been recent studies looking at Shingrux and looks like it’s even more effective. I think this is one of those “why not?” Ones, it’s obviously a win-win.
The studied vaccine is not Shingrix and without a mechanism of action, there's little reason to believe Shingrix would have the same effect.

IMHO, those already suffering from early stages of dementia are less likely to get shingles vaccines because they already have impaired decision making skills. They can't weigh the known short-term side effects against unknown long-term negative outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had shingles twice and have looked but found no research on whether it makes sense to get the vaccine. Clearly I already carry the virus.

My cousin had lingering symptoms from a shingles case that flared up sometimes. She says getting shringix actually made these go away.

Everyone who has had chicken pox has had the virus, so that's not the point.

If you had shingles and received the antiviral, you are good. It wouldn’t hurt to get the vaccine, too. Varicella can hit in different ways. It can return as Ramsey -hunt or shingles even if you had chicken pox.
There is similar findings in those who take valtrex antiviral for herpes. Lowers dementia risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These pharmaceutical companies will stop at nothing to keep making a buck. This has to be read with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Sorry to break it to you, but the pharmaceutical companies will make a LOT more money off you if you get shingles.

Also I’m curious if you are anti-capitalist in every facet of your life? Do you eschew refrigerators because GE just wants to make money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard the same thing and my brain immediately screamed correlation is not causation.

“It’s unclear exactly how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk. It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain or involve other mechanisms. It’s important to note that this study looked at the Zostavax vaccine rather than Shingrix, which is now more commonly used.

The studied vaccine is not Shingrix and without a mechanism of action, there's little reason to believe Shingrix would have the same effect.

IMHO, those already suffering from early stages of dementia are less likely to get shingles vaccines because they already have impaired decision making skills. They can't weigh the known short-term side effects against unknown long-term negative outcomes.

You didn't read the whole article - they found the same if not more substantial correlation between Shingrix vaccine and reduction of risk of developing dementia. It's right in the article, but you have to read past the first two paragraphs.

It's still correlation. I can't get excited for correlations.

I wonder if they controlled for education level or things like diet. There’s a major correlation between diet and dementia and I’m sure people who get the vaccine are also the type of people who pay more attention to healthy eating.

If you read about the study you would see the two populations were very well matched: the only difference was whether their birthday was the week before or the week after an arbitrary are cutoff for qualifying for the vaccine. Turning 80 one week earlier wouldn’t change the education class or diet of a broad population. There’s a strong basis for believing it was the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

What ate did you all actually get your shingles vaccine at?

[Anonymous]

*age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What ate did you all actually get your shingles vaccine at?

My family practice GP.

I scheduled a “nurse appt/vax”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard the same thing and my brain immediately screamed correlation is not causation.

“It’s unclear exactly how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk. It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain or involve other mechanisms. It’s important to note that this study looked at the Zostavax vaccine rather than Shingrix, which is now more commonly used.

Not true, there have been recent studies looking at Shingrux and looks like it’s even more effective. I think this is one of those “why not?” Ones, it’s obviously a win-win.
The studied vaccine is not Shingrix and without a mechanism of action, there's little reason to believe Shingrix would have the same effect.

IMHO, those already suffering from early stages of dementia are less likely to get shingles vaccines because they already have impaired decision making skills. They can't weigh the known short-term side effects against unknown long-term negative outcomes.

I never said don't get it. You should if you are eligible.

But until there is some causal explanation, let's not overhype side effects of vaccines. That just gives fuel to the antivaxx "the experts don't know how they work" crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had shingles twice and have looked but found no research on whether it makes sense to get the vaccine. Clearly I already carry the virus.

You already carried the virus before you got shingles, it's the chicken pox virus which you were exposed to as a child.

And yes, the answer is that it is worth getting the vaccine even if you've already had shingles. I've spoken about this with more than one doctor as I cared for elder patients who suffered shingles and were encouraged to get the vaccine, which will reduce the risk of a recurrence and reduce the severity of disease - just like influenza, covid and other vaccines do.

NP with a fun fact. I didn’t catch chicken pox until age 30, from, we later realized, a little blonde girl on the train from Stockholm to Oslo.

Yes, I have gotten both shingles vaccines.

My sister (who is a physician!!) didn't catch chicken pox until she was 32 and pregnant with her second child. It was really scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What ate did you all actually get your shingles vaccine at?

Got one today at Walgreens. No reaction yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had shingles twice and have looked but found no research on whether it makes sense to get the vaccine. Clearly I already carry the virus.

I got it too. My doctor says natural immunity lasts about 2 years and I should (have) gottten the vax at 50. It's a rough vax so I'm still waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*age

50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wanted to start a separate thread on this so folks would see it.

I'm a retired attorney who now works as a caregiver and have cared for a number of disabled and elder patients in recent years who suffered from shingles outbreaks, some repeatedly and some suffering from the not uncommon complication of persistent nerve damage (postherpetic neuralgia) for the remainder of their lives which caused significant pain and diminishment of quality of life in their final years.

Shingles can also cause blindness, deafness, paralysis, pneumonia and even in rare cases death - so it's nothing to shrug off.

But now we have substantial evidence that getting the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing dementia by substantial numbers, so there is a bonus benefit to enduring the side effects of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible (age 50).

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/02/study-finds-strongest-evidence-yet-that-shingles-vaccine-helps-cut-dementia-risk

I had shingles when I was 44. Guess what? Having shingles is the worst part of having shingles. Blindness, pneumonia, and death are not as scary as shingles. Shingles is crazy painful!! Avoid shingles at all costs, please! Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im with the PP that said all vaccines make her sick. Me too. I got both doses. My second dose was delayed because of Covid, but I got it a few months later than I normally would have.

Got so sick from the vaccine but I didn't care. Two things about me - One: vaccines make me so sick. Two: I get the uber version of any illness. If the standard is you're laid up for 5 days I'm out for 10; if you "might" experience side effects from the treatment meds, I'll have those and then some. So no way was I gambling with shingles. I'd get the full face/eye/need to be a dark room for a month version and hell no to that.

People who say things like this sound so exhausting. You likely get the same effects from vaccines and illnesses that other people do. You are not a special snowflake.

Not everyone. I know because one of my children is like pp.