Shingles vaccine 'has cut cases by a third' in England

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Northerner

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Cases of shingles have reduced by 35% in England since a vaccine was offered to 70-year-olds, Public Health England says.

But it is urging more people in their 70s to get their free injection against the painful condition.

They are most at risk of shingles and more likely to develop complications, such as severe nerve pain.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chicken pox virus and results in a nasty skin rash and fever.

The vaccine programme started in England in 2013 and 5.5m people were eligible for the free single injection over the first three years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42441429
 
If I ever get to my 70s I’ll look forward to it. Shingles is horrible.
 
I had it once years ago and it is not a pleasant experience at all.
Couldn't put a shirt on, sleep, sit or shower for about 2 weeks. I was in my 40's at the time.
I will defintely have it when I reach 70 that is a dead cert.
An old friend of mine a retired pharmacist, had shingles earlier this year this year. He is 84 and he was in agony for nearly 6 weeks before there was any respite.
 
My husband had a shingles attack at the time the vaccination was announced so could not have it at the time. Made an enquiry at the time he had flu jab this year and he has just had it. Question - as GPs have all the data on patients including date of birth why can't they target patients or at least offer it at the time of the flu jab? It is only for 70-79 year olds after all. After the recent publicity will be asking GP for my jab. For some reason I thought it only applied to men!
 
Sadly, although I’m severely at risk from shingles, I can’t have the present live vaccine (and don’t know if I would mount an immune response anyway). I’m pleased to hear of the development of the non-live shingles vaccine Shingrix which has been developed specifically to overcome the age-related decline in immunity and to vaccinate people with blood cancers etc. Even so, the protection rate isn’t brilliant in people like me but it’s worth having.

Many of my fellow leukaemia sufferers have a helluva time with shingles leading to post hepatic neuralgia which is an horrific pain. Anyone showing signs of shingles should get antiviral treatment as quickly as possible such as;
  • Acyclovir (Zovirax)
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
  • Famciclovir (Famvir)
 
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