Thread: Shingles Vaccine ?

If they had a vaccine for osteo-arthritis, I'd DAMN sure give that one a try.

This is a new one on me I definitely had Chicken Pox when I was a kid and still get the occasional but painful cold sore, I'm going to look into this as I always thought that Shingles is something I would eventually get but aged 55 I haven't had it yet.

Yea, good thread and lots to think about. Currently it is not covered under our government health care, OHIP, and will set you back $200.00 per. Will be calling my private insurance company to see if they cover all or part of it. Both of us are thinking of getting it as both have had Chicken Pox as kids.

On a good note the pneumonia vaccine is covered under OHIP so we have that covered and done. Can't have everything covered.

Bob

I have had Chicken Pox but never Shingles a good friend of mine did and it didn't seem like a fun time on the other hand I have permanent nerve damage I can only guess it would feel about the same so I will be checking into this shot Thanks for posting this.

I have always been averse to getting vaccines, taking medication. @ 65 I don't have to take anything and I am very grateful for that. I have friends my age who take a dozen pills daily. When the flu vaccine first became the rage our government encouraged everyone to get the vaccine for the swine flu. Back in the '70s IIRC. My then wife and I didn't go for it. Shortly thereafter some people who did died.

Needless to say, I guess, I didn't get flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, or anything else for years. The only time I went to a doctor was if I had broken bones, or needed stitches, and I didn't always go then. Seriously. Anyhow, when I was 64 I got pneumonia. Laid around at home for a week feeling like I was going to die and afraid I wouldn't. I finally got up and drove to a nearby walk in emergency clinic that we see on street corners nowadays.

That is a story in itself but I won't weary you with that. I got the requisite meds, recovered from the pneumonia, went out and got the flu shot @ $25.00 and followed that with the pneumonia shot at $125.00 my dime. Now I'm on Medicare so most of this stuff is less costly or even free. I am a believer in vaccines now. So I wrestled with getting this damned shingles vaccine. My insurance didn't cover it at the time the doc recommended it. Nearby sources were $225.00 USD. By the time I did decide to get it the insurance covered all but $95.00 so that was better.

The $ weren't the only issue. The great preacher Jonathon Edwards, considered that greatest American religious philosopher, died @ 56 after taking a smallpox vaccination in the 1700s. He contracted the disease instead of being protected from it. Maybe that is a stretch but I knew about that and imagined getting this live virus and you know Murphy's Law .... if something can go wrong it will. So I awoke this morning after a good nights sleep and feel well. All is well that ends well.

Most of, if not all, the vaccinations needed to protect you from common diseases have been covered by our OHIP. We get our flu shot every year and , touch wood, both of have not had the flu since starting to get the flu shots. Getting the pneumonia shot was a no brainer for us too. I had seen my mother get pneumonia twice and being under an oxygen tent did not look too inviting and to be avoided if possible. To me the risks involved in getting vaccinations are so miniscule vs the benefits that we get from them. Like a lot of subjects this one has had a good bit of uncalled for hysterics attached to it similar to the one about us having death squads hidden away in our public health system. I don't think there is any who has had polio who would have turned down a vaccine for it if it had been available for them.

Bob

GOt a flu shot many years back. Got sicker than a dog. They tell me the vaccines have improved since then.

At our age, probably ain't' no big deal, but I have to wonder about all the crap they're pumping into kids and all the problems from it. Seems like everywhere you look, there are kids with autism, cancer, and world of health issues that I NEVER heard of in kids until about 10 to 15 years ago when they really started shoving the vaccine programs.

We had polio, small pox, and TB vaccines as I recall. Got several butt loads of stuff when I went to SE Asia ( the yellow fever vaccine gave you a mild case of that shit and that was not fun), but I don't trust "big pharma" because there is no money in curing people. The money is in treating the symptoms.

Not about to tell anybody else how to run their business, but that's just my take on it.

Had horrible Chicken Pox about 60 years ago. So bad that according to my father they thought it may have been Smallpox. Oh yeah, I got a Shingles shot. Never any bad effects. Sister in law got shingles earlier this year. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. She was a mess.

Well thanks for the heads up. I didn't even know there was a vaccine!!

I don't have to wonder if I had the chicken pox. I got it when I was in my early 30's. It was hell! Besides the discomfort, I recall my doctor warning me it could leave me strerile! I think that concerned me the most!!

Alas - I dodged that bullet


I am a lucky man.

I was too young to remember having chicken pox, but I sure do remember having shingles. During a stressful time in my 20's after years of believing meat was all a man needed to survive. The lack of proper nutrition and stress left my immune system weakened and I got shingles.

For over a week I had to 'sleep' sitting up, couldn't wear a shirt or socks and even cool water on my skin burned . I couldn't even work. I didn't know there was a vaccine but I will be getting it.