It's not very likely that you'll get it twice, but it's far from impossible. As mentioned above, I've had it twice - and I got the two Shingrix
last year. In Denmark, it's not free of charge, unfortunately.
Shingles vaccine?
- Thread starter Fast Eddie B
- Start date
last year. In Denmark, it's not free of charge, unfortunately.bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Yes I have heard of people doing chickenpox and also measles parties, on the grounds of "get it over with." I suppose it made a little more sense (not a lot more, but a little) before any vaccines were available to avoid the diseases.
By the way, it's interesting to note that the Alzheimer's study was done in 2013, with the older Zostavax live-virus vaccine. So it seems it's not certain whether the same results might occur with Shingrix, which is much more effective on shingles itself. Zostavax is no longer on the market.
By the way, it's interesting to note that the Alzheimer's study was done in 2013, with the older Zostavax live-virus vaccine. So it seems it's not certain whether the same results might occur with Shingrix, which is much more effective on shingles itself. Zostavax is no longer on the market.
novaphile
Quester of Doglets
Better the kid die early than invest a lot of resources in them, and have them die later.
Probably makes economic sense but seems pretty callous to me.
Different times I guess.
Rolfe
Adult human female
Some of these conditions are relatively mild in childhood but can be a lot more serious later on. It makes sense in that context.
Not saying you're claiming it, but I don't see that as a reasonable explanation for exposing your kids to it if it's not so bad late if contracted. Kind of was for me in my 20s. We're not farm animals.
Pixel42
Schrödinger's cat
Rubella, in particular, was considered better for girls to get early, because of the likely effect on the child if contracted whilst pregnant.
Rolfe
Adult human female
Mumps is another one, particularly for boys. I think with chickenpox it was more of a calculation that it's a mild illness anyway, they're going to catch it one way or another, so better do it at a non-critical time rather than in the middle of the exams. Or indeed at the start of the summer holiday.
I'm not saying this was a good thing, and actually I don't know anyone who did it, but that seems to have been the logic.
I'm not saying this was a good thing, and actually I don't know anyone who did it, but that seems to have been the logic.
The point is that it tended to be worse late, and the percentage of the population infected at some point was in the nineties. In the case of measles, 95%!
Anyway, after vaccines became available, there is no doubt that vaccinations are infinitely better than pox parties, and herd immunity by vaccination also protects people who, for whatever reason, can't get vaccinated.
In other good news: Samoans have learned from experience that RFK Jr. is not to be trusted - a lesson that many Americans still have coming:
The percentage of vaccinated people would probably have been higher if it weren't for RFK Jr.
In the USA:
And in the case of measles (I don't know about the others), that percentage is not enough for herd immunity:
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Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
I got my jabs last year.
My wife OTOH, had some sort of antibody test that indicated that she doesn't need the shot, even though she is old enough to be eligible for it.
I'm not sure what to make of that. Is it just as well to have an antibody test and to forego the shots if the result of the test shows that you are already protected (naturally I assume)?
For reference:
medlineplus.gov
I'm not certain exactly what sort of test she had. She is Japanese, btw. I kind of suspect that the safe thing would be to get the vaccine anyway, but I don't know. ETA: she is too old to have been vaccinated for chicken pox. She would have had the natural virus itself as a child, as did I.
My wife OTOH, had some sort of antibody test that indicated that she doesn't need the shot, even though she is old enough to be eligible for it.
I'm not sure what to make of that. Is it just as well to have an antibody test and to forego the shots if the result of the test shows that you are already protected (naturally I assume)?
For reference:
Chickenpox and Shingles Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test
Chickenpox and shingles tests check to see if you are or have ever been infected with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV causes chickenpox and shingles. Learn more.
medlineplus.gov
I'm not certain exactly what sort of test she had. She is Japanese, btw. I kind of suspect that the safe thing would be to get the vaccine anyway, but I don't know. ETA: she is too old to have been vaccinated for chicken pox. She would have had the natural virus itself as a child, as did I.
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Rolfe
Adult human female
Only 3% of the Samoan population were infected with measles? Given how infectious it is, that's low. When I had a consultation with a vaccine nurse prior to a trip to South America, he casually remarked that they simply assumed everyone in my birth year had contracted measles, mumps and rubella as children and so didn't need the MMR.
I'm pretty sure my parents were opposed to intentionally catching diseases, though it's not possible to ask them now; but I did have all the then common diseases when I was young - measles, German measles (rubella), mumps, chickenpox and even a mild form of scarlet fever (which must have alarmed my mother in particular, since her brother died of it).
I had the first Shingrix jab yesterday morning, and also one against pneumonia in the other arm. No obvious reactions except slight soreness of the arms, but for some reason I wasn't able to get to sleep last night.
See the Guardian article quoted by dann, earlier:
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Rolfe
Adult human female
From the archive: "Shingles vaccine & dementia prevention: too good to be true?"
A public peer-review
epiellie.substack.com
bruto
Penultimate Amazing
The link provided by Rolfe is interesting for sure, and it does suggest at least that there's more research to be done here to determine if there really is anything more than correlation, and if so what it is. The fact that shingles vaccines are generally given only to people who have already had chicken pox leaves some issues unresolved. Is there, for example, a study that compares the dementia rates for those who have ever had chicken pox and those who have not? It appears there's never been such a study, nor any in which dementia rates in that never-poxed group are compared between those who have, and have not, received the vaccine, since up to now people in that group would have no reason to have gotten it. So far, it's an interesting possible side effect, and I'm happy for whatever validity it might prove to have, since the prevention of shingles is a benefit either way. But further study would certainly be interesting, as is anything that shed light on the issue of dementia.
LIke Zooterkin, I got most of the childhood diseases early, not because anyone wanted me to, but because my sister got measles and chicken-pox at school, and brought them home, and there were no vaccines then (at least not in France in 1952). I skipped German measles until much later, and have never had mumps, but got a more than mild case of scarlet fever about a year later, with a case of some lingering intestinal bug, possibly dysentery, in between. So I had delerium-level fevers twice in about a year. Fortunately, I was back in the US in 1953, where a doctor with a heck of a big looking syringe shot me full of penicillin, and I perked right up, and stopped seeing strange brightly colored amoeboid shapes flying around the living room!
Anyway, I seem to have made it to 77 so far without noticeable dementia, so I'll take whatever advantage, anecdotal or not, that comes along. If there's a vaccine for anything I'll line up for it.
And, of course, it should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: â—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—Š RFK.
LIke Zooterkin, I got most of the childhood diseases early, not because anyone wanted me to, but because my sister got measles and chicken-pox at school, and brought them home, and there were no vaccines then (at least not in France in 1952). I skipped German measles until much later, and have never had mumps, but got a more than mild case of scarlet fever about a year later, with a case of some lingering intestinal bug, possibly dysentery, in between. So I had delerium-level fevers twice in about a year. Fortunately, I was back in the US in 1953, where a doctor with a heck of a big looking syringe shot me full of penicillin, and I perked right up, and stopped seeing strange brightly colored amoeboid shapes flying around the living room!
Anyway, I seem to have made it to 77 so far without noticeable dementia, so I'll take whatever advantage, anecdotal or not, that comes along. If there's a vaccine for anything I'll line up for it.
And, of course, it should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: â—Šâ—Šâ—Šâ—Š RFK.
My wife and I both got the 2-dose shingles vax (Shingrix) last year. We both felt immune-activation side effects (the classic "mild flu-like symptoms") the day after and even extending into the second day after. It was considerably worse than for a flu vaccine (which we get annually) and even a little worse than our worst Covid shots. Many other people we've mentioned this to say they had similar experiences. It's no big deal but those getting it should be prepared for it (like e.g. not scheduling travel the next day).
I felt like crap after my first Shingrix shot. I'm due for the booster. I've been procrastinating in fear of a repeat episode.
I think I'm just lucky. I've not had significant side effects from any vaccination beyond soreness from the needle; even when I had Covid itself it was milder than a cold.
Helen
Implicitly explicit
Had all the childhood diseases as a kid in the late 50s and early 60s before the vaccines arrived, and was hospitalised with almost all of them. Measles very nearly killed me. Nowadays I take every shot I can get my hands on (or a nurse's hands, rather). Had whooping cough as a child, and then again about ten years ago, which was awful; spent hours in the bathroom every night vomiting and coughing at the same time, so I got that vaccine as well a year or so ago, and have had my two shingrix shots. What I will never understand is why people seem to think it’s better to be ill for days on end, rather than take the vaccine. Being ill is no fun at all, and even if it won't necessarily kill you, it might well cause quite a lot of damage to you as well as to others. Besides, the immunity from having had the diseases is not better or stronger than that from the vaccines. As far as I know at least. I suppose it's that "natural" idiocy? Never had any side effects other than mild flu symptoms from any of my many shots (have lost count of the covid ones. 7, I think).
novaphile
Quester of Doglets
I got my jabs last year.
My wife OTOH, had some sort of antibody test that indicated that she doesn't need the shot, even though she is old enough to be eligible for it.
I'm not sure what to make of that. Is it just as well to have an antibody test and to forego the shots if the result of the test shows that you are already protected (naturally I assume)?
For reference:
Chickenpox and Shingles Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test
Chickenpox and shingles tests check to see if you are or have ever been infected with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). VZV causes chickenpox and shingles. Learn more.
I'm not certain exactly what sort of test she had. She is Japanese, btw. I kind of suspect that the safe thing would be to get the vaccine anyway, but I don't know. ETA: she is too old to have been vaccinated for chicken pox. She would have had the natural virus itself as a child, as did I.
Hmm...
I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but...
I recently realised that I had never been vaccinated for measles, and consulted my GP.
He arranged for a blood test to see if I had an active immune response to measles, and the result was a strong positive.
This means, IIRC, that I have been exposed to measles in the past, and my immune system is still primed to fight it, therefore, no measles vaccine is needed.
Edited to add:
MMR and other measles vaccines were introduced after I'd finished school.
In High School, girls only, were vaccinated for Rubella (AKA German Measles).
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Immunity to the measles by infection - unlike e.g. infection-induced immunity to COVID-19 - usually lasts for the rest of your life - like the immunity to the measles induced by vaccinations (again, unlike immunity to C19), and most elderly adults are immune to the measles for this reason.
I recently got the MMR vaccination just to be on the safe side because I didn't think I've ever had the measles, the mumps or rubella. I might have had them without remembering because I was too young, but my aunt, who was a registered nurse, didn't think I'd had any of them, so ...
I didn't bother to have a blood test first because the worst thing that can happen by getting the MMR vaccine would be to boost already existing immunity.
I recently got the MMR vaccination just to be on the safe side because I didn't think I've ever had the measles, the mumps or rubella. I might have had them without remembering because I was too young, but my aunt, who was a registered nurse, didn't think I'd had any of them, so ...
I didn't bother to have a blood test first because the worst thing that can happen by getting the MMR vaccine would be to boost already existing immunity.
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Exactly the same with me. No side effects whatsoever the shingles or any other shot I’ve had