The Shingles Vaccine
Every vaccine must be considered on its own merits. Blanket statements about vaccines in general are unscientific.
Shingles is bad. You don’t want shingles. Now there’s a vaccine.
Background
Herpes zoster is the virus responsible for causing chicken pox and often leads to shingles later in life. Shingles is well-known to produce significant pain and discomfort, which often lasts for months to years and may lead to post-herpetic neuralgia. Shingles can occur anywhere on the body. Patients experience pain, burning, sensitivity to touch, fluid-filled blisters that may crust over, and have itching. For many patients the pain is substantial. Anyone who has had chicken pox may develop shingles as the virus enters the nervous system and lies dormant for years. Eventually, the virus can reactivate to cause shingles. After a shingles episode has resolved, some patients may develop PHN anyway. PHN is a disorder impacting the nerves and skin that produces burning pain that persists after the rash and blisters of shingles has resolved.
To prevent shingles, the RZV vaccine Shingrix was approved and came on the market in 2017. It quickly became one of the most sought-after vaccinations in the developed world. For the first few years, it was very difficult to get, as all doctors and pharmacies had very limited allocations. It is now recommended for all people over 50 and is widely available.
Should you get the Shingrix vaccine?
Of course, each person should make his/her own decision about any medicine, but I highly recommend the Shingrix vaccine. A recent study looked at the real-world results since the vaccine’s release and found it very effective. It doesn’t guarantee you won’t get shingles, but it has been shown to be about 70 percent effective after two doses. These real-world results are less than the 90-percent figures from the drug trials on the way to FDA approval, but I’d rather be 70 percent protected than zero percent. Shingles is bad. The decision not to get the vaccine is a decision to increase your risk of getting shingles.
What is the downside? In addition to the expense and discomfort and potentially a day or two of feeling tired, the one negative is that about 3 people in a million have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a serious neurological disorder, following Shingrix vaccination. Given that about 1-2 people per 100,000 are diagnosed with GBS each year, it’s entirely likely that some or all of those “side effects” were going to happen without the vaccine. But even if those numbers are true side effects, the benefits outweigh the risks in my view.
It’s up to you. I’m not giving medical advice here, just information and opinions.
How to get the Shingrix vaccine
The vaccine is now widely available. You may have to pay, depending on your insurance situation, but it’s worth it. I would say most people should get this vaccine right around their 60th birthday. It does wear off over time, so 60 is probably in the sweet spot for most people. It comes in two shots, separated by 2-6 months. In my case, the second shot laid me out for 36 hours. I managed to get out of bed to use the bathroom and get something to drink, but I really slept for almost the entire time. It wasn’t fun. But then it was over and now I’m protected. You should be, too.
Remember, I’m not your doctor, I’m your advisor. For other health concerns and to start your longevity program, book your first call with me today.