topic Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot? in Community Chat

Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

cherry — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:11:14 GMT

My husband and I both hve had it.However my adult children have not. They both had chicken pox as children. There was no vaccine for it ,when they were young

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

NickNack1 — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:13:31 GMT

I saw something on WebMD the other day that said you should get one when you're 50. I'll be 59 this month, and no one has ever mentioned that I should get one. I thought I would ask my doctor about it at my next check up. I remember when my grandmother had shingles. It was just awful.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

cherry — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:13:25 GMT

thanks

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

Perkup — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:14:46 GMT

I was desperately ill with shingles two years ago. They wanted me to get a shot after it all cleared up, but I have two relatives who have had shots and still got shingles again and again. I'm not sure I will ever get the shot. But ask the doctor what he or she suggests and take their advice. I'm just old and hard headed.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

JustJazzmom — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:16:15 GMT

@cherry

You may need to contact your insurance plan because some companies will cover the cost at a later age than 50. You will need to ask when the shingles vaccine is covered by the insurance company and if its not covered at say age 50 and you want it sooner than the age the insurance company covers, you may have to cover the cost yourself with out of pocket expenses.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

nomless — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:18:52 GMT

Your doctor can review your situation with you and give you the best advice.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

Stray — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:21:59 GMT

The guidelines were initially for older adults but it is now approved and advised for 50+ years but not mandatory. I think many doctors are not aware that the age guideline was changed. Pediatricians are most familiar with guidelines for their patients but internists and General practiontioners usually recommend it more for seniors.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

icezeus — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:24:51 GMT

I ask my doctor earlier this year and she told me that I was not old enough for it yet. I am going to be 48 in a few months by the way.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

cowboy sam — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:32:22 GMT

My insurance won't cover it last time i checked.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

reiki604 — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:32:39 GMT

Check with your insurance company. It's an expensive shot.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

NanciJ — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:38:36 GMT

My husband and I had our shingles shots this spring....after he came down with shingles. He's 70 and I am 65. We definitely regret that we had not had them previously. He was really ill, and had shingles in his right eye, and in his head...which is one of the worst places that you can get them with nerve pain. He only recently stopped the nerve pain meds, to treat the long lasting results of the shingles. Our daughter in law's sister had shingles at 42....which is the youngest of anyone that I know personally.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

CLHS68 — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:55:32 GMT

My doctor wanted me to get the shot but no one here will give it to you until you are on Medicare. Other insurance won't cover and they are expensive.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

Burnsite — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 23:58:28 GMT

Hi, cherry, My insurance recommended it (and covered it fully) at 55 or 60, I think.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

quilter61 — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:03:58 GMT

I got the vaccine last summer. My doctor recommeded it, I was 60. I usually don't get vaccines, but have seen people suffer and did not want to go through the same thing. My insurance covered the shot, in fact they reccomend it as a preventive. Check with your insurance company, I think more are starting to cover this vaccine.

My doctor's office did not carry it. I had it done at a pharmacy. I called my insurance company, because they would only pay for it at certain pharmacies. I did end up with a rash at the injection site. If that was an example of what shingles is like, glad I got the shot.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

panda1234 — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:11:42 GMT

@NickNack1 wrote:
I saw something on WebMD the other day that said you should get one when you're 50. I'll be 59 this month, and no one has ever mentioned that I should get one. I thought I would ask my doctor about it at my next check up. I remember when my grandmother had shingles. It was just awful.

Insurance will not pay unless you are 60 years old.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

gramygram — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:13:15 GMT

I got shingles last October and now I have gotten the recurring nerve pain. I'm 51 and I did not know about a vaccine but I say if you can afford it and can get you should because I do not know wish this kind of pain on anyone. It's disabling. Cherry hope your husband does not have to through it again.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

LexPex — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:43:52 GMT

My doctor says age 60 for anyone that has had chicken pox. My DH and I both had a shot last year

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

Tenners — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:59:52 GMT

I had shingles earlier this year and they lasted for 4 months. I thought the pain would never go away. I did not get the shot. I don't know if that would have made a difference. My boss said his wife got the shot and immediately got shingles. My doctor wants me to get the shot but I'm going on vacation soon and don't want to chance it. He said I should get it after it goes away. I don't really feel comfortable getting it. I know I can get shingles again. I think I'll take my chances unrtil I get back from vacation. Come to think of it I have a lot planned between now and the end of the year. I have a lot of time to think about it.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

wonderfulworld — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 01:28:40 GMT

I just had a conversation about this with the gal at the pharmacy. She said that the FDA is considering dropping the age for the vaccine to 30 from 60 (or 50 some say) because so many more younger people are getting shingles. The theory is that when chicken pox went around you got a 'bump' in your immune system when you were exposed to a kid who had it and that made you more resistent to Shingles.. Now no one gets chicken pox and that makes adults more susceptible to Shingles if they had chicken pox as a child.

I have no way of knowing if her info is correct, of course.

Re: Do they say when you should get a shingles shot?

JustJazzmom — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 01:48:25 GMT

The chickenpox virus is a Herpes zoster virus and after you have it, it goes dormant in your body's nerve tissues and sits there for years. Many things can trigger shingles such as stress or your immune system is not as efficient as it was when you were younger and the virus reactivates itself when you are older.

People who have an active case of shingles should stay away from those who have not been vaccinated against chickenpox or had the disease because if that person comes in contact with your shingles (the blisters), that person can come down with chickenpox.