Obscure Vaccination

**Grumbles** · 23rd February 2020, 02:53 PM

We are often exhorted to get our Influenza, Tetanus vaccinations etc but for the over 60s' there is another vaccination and it often flies under the radar. I am talking about the Shingles Vaccination.

If over 70 then it is free but knowing what I know now I'd have spent the $200 and got it when in my 60s'.

I'm over 70 and got Shingles last November. The docs mentioned the 'free for me' vaccination but said no can do while an attack is under way and no hurry to get it once I was recovered.

Well let me tell you now there was a flaming hurry. 4 months after the attack I am now enduring my second Shingles attack. Mutter bloody grumble.......

The Shingle antibiotic tablets can mitigate the debilitating attack but the medication must be commenced within 3 days of the attack beginning or it doesn't work. I was lucky in a funny sort of way in that each time I recognized the symptoms and got to a doc for the meds as a matter of some urgency.

Be aware folks and consider getting the jab.

**JDNSW** · 23rd February 2020, 03:31 PM

Yes, I know about this - guess how!

Second attack was after the vaccination, which is not particularly effective, but may have been the reason the second attack was very mild. (Still in continual pain from the first attack about fifteen years ago, no after effects from the second one at all)

**Graeme** · 23rd February 2020, 04:29 PM

A friend who got Shingles that affected his eyesight for about 9 months advised all his friends to get the vaccination. I was a few years off the freebie but paid the $200+ anyway, mostly because I'm a farmer who does almost everything myself. A few months later I had a very mild dose on my chest that only lasted a few weeks, for which I only took Panadol for a few days. I was very lucky.

**NavyDiver** · 23rd February 2020, 04:39 PM

Its a free vaccine from "70–79 years" I am paying for it soon then grabbing my freebie booster when i hit 70ish. Seen to many 50 year olds who all wish they had.

Rates of it increasing every year for every age group.

**101RRS** · 23rd February 2020, 04:56 PM

The other one to consider for over 65yo is the pneumonia vaccination.

**JDNSW** · 23rd February 2020, 06:55 PM

In one sense that is not as important - pneumonia kills pretty quickly (or you recover), shingles is almost never fatal, but can result in decades of pain.

**101RRS** · 23rd February 2020, 07:38 PM

Why not get both

**JDNSW** · 23rd February 2020, 07:46 PM

I have.

**Don 130** · 23rd February 2020, 07:50 PM

As I've already got a couple of chronic diseases, my GP insisted I get the shot a few years ago. She said t would be a total game changer if I got shingles on top of my current issues. No sign of an attack yet, and I hope it stays that way
Don

**p38arover** · 23rd February 2020, 08:26 PM

I got shingles in early 1993 while at a meeting in Melbourne when I was on secondment to Telecom (as it was then called).

I had no idea what it was but cut my trip short and flew back to Sydney to see my doctor. Dunno if I infected anyone else on the plane.

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