[Jimbobeast]

I love these stories that start with "My neighbor's aunt got the vaccine and her left hand turned into a cucumber", or "My great uncle was in a car crash and he would have died if he was wearing a seatbelt, so I never wear one".
I was an ER doc for 40 years. I have seen disseminated zoster (shingles over the whole body) and post-herpetic neuralgia (permanent damage to the nerve, so the rash area is forever on fire). I got the early vaccine and more recently the two-part vaccine. I've also received the 3 part hepatitis vaccine, 2 part pneumonia vaccine, TDAP (tetanus diptheria and pertussis), meningitis, yearly influenza and hopefully soon a Corona vaccine.
But hey, what do I know? I don't really care if anyone else gets the shingles vaccine, because they can't infect anyone else. Only they will suffer when they get it (remember 1 in 3). They will only have themselves to blame.
It's a free country. Do what you want. But choose based on facts, not anecdotes.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

I love these stories that start with "My neighbor's aunt got the vaccine and her left hand turned into a cucumber", or "My great uncle was in a car crash and he would have died if he was wearing a seatbelt, so I never wear one".
I was an ER doc for 40 years. I have seen disseminated zoster (shingles over the whole body) and post-herpetic neuralgia (permanent damage to the nerve, so the rash area is forever on fire). I got the early vaccine and more recently the two-part vaccine. I've also received the 3 part hepatitis vaccine, 2 part pneumonia vaccine, TDAP (tetanus diptheria and pertussis), meningitis, yearly influenza and hopefully soon a Corona vaccine.
But hey, what do I know? I don't really care if anyone else gets the shingles vaccine, because they can't infect anyone else. Only they will suffer when they get it (remember 1 in 3). They will only have themselves to blame.
It's a free country. Do what you want. But choose based on facts, not anecdotes.

So is it true, that even if you get the vaccine you can still get the shingles? That happened to my mother, not a neighbors shirt tail relative. Her doctor said it's not 100% effective, but it is supposed to lessen the effects.

I'd like to know because both my parents have had shingles. I'm not at all opposed to taking it, just would like to know if it's possible I'd still get it, but at a reduced intensity.

Thanks for taking the time to address this.

[Jimbobeast]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

So is it true, that even if you get the vaccine you can still get the shingles? That happened to my mother, not a neighbors shirt tail relative. Her doctor said it's not 100% effective, but it is supposed to lessen the effects.

I'd like to know because both my parents have had shingles. I'm not at all opposed to taking it, just would like to know if it's possible I'd still get it, but at a reduced intensity.

Thanks for taking the time to address this.

Yes and yes. Her doctor is right.
I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.
Shingles (varicella zoster) comes from the Varicella (chicken pox) virus that we all had when we were kids. It sits dormant in your body for DECADES and then just decides out of the blue to show itself. Some say stress brings it out. Nobody knows. The vaccine alerts your immune system to be aware of the virus, so that if it shows it's head you have antibodies ready to kill it immediately.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

Yes and yes. Her doctor is right.
I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.
Shingles (varicella zoster) comes from the Varicella (chicken pox) virus that we all had when we were kids. It sits dormant in your body for DECADES and then just decides out of the blue to show itself. Some say stress brings it out. Nobody knows. The vaccine alerts your immune system to be aware of the virus, so that if it shows it's head you have antibodies ready to kill it immediately.

Thanks, appreciate the info.

[Ben M.]

Originally Posted by Jimbobeast

I think the new vaccine reduces your chance of getting shingles by 90%.

Everyone expects a vaccine to be 100% effective and in the majority of cases that just isn't how it works. The science to make them 100% just isn't there for a number of factors. It doesn't make the vaccine worthless or "cause the illness" just because someone heard a story from someone else saying so.