To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

.....is an ongoing hotly discussed topic these days. I fall squarely into the vaccinate camp; but I'm not going to judge those that choose otherwise.

SO

Today's post is written with the simple intent to provide more information, specifically the shingles vaccine.

I was chatting with a friend yesterday, and asked her if she had considered receiving the shingles vaccination. She was super supportive and was kept informed of every gross disgusting and painful detail of my experiences lately. So I was really surprised at her answer, which was,

"Well.....I don't know...." here she wrinkled her nose. "I know someone that had that vaccine and her arm was sore for TWO WHOLE DAYS."

Really? REALLY?

I couldn't believe it. "You'd risk going through what I have been going through for the past three weeks because you don't want to deal with a bit of arm soreness for a couple of days?!"

She shrugged.

It was time to bring out the big guns. I hadn't planned on sharing this but desperate times called for desperate actions. It was time to show her THE PICTURE.

Yes. The one that I'm going to share with y'all.

*Disclaimer: this is really disgusting. So scroll down really fast if you have a weak stomach*

Me. That's ME. I still can't believe it.

This pustule laden rash continues around under my left arm and over the left side of my chest. The picture was taken two days ago, and today has progressed in that the blisters have popped leaving big chunks of raw open lesions across my back.

Delightful.

My friend's jaw dropped in shock. She was stunned.

I don't know what people think a shingles rash looks like or feels like but it isn't pretty or comfortable. For me, my symptoms are severe enough to require three prescription drugs: the antiviral acyclovir, large doses of gabapentin, and opioid pain medication. I feel like a zombie but that's a huge improvement over dealing with the debilitating pain.

I'd give almost anything to have been able to receive that vaccine that could have eliminated or made this experience far less severe than it has been. And I would have -- if only I had had decent white cell numbers this summer and fall.

Ah, well. I most certainly will get it as soon as it is safe to do so.

As I said earlier, I don't want to judge anyone's decision here. I just want to provide adequate and truthful information so that an informed decision can be made.

Currently, there are two versions of the shingles vaccine. Check with your physician to see which is right for you. Here's the dope about this vaccine from the CDC, found here. :

What Everyone Should Know about Zostavax 

Your risk of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) increases as you get older. CDC recommends that people 60 years old and older get shingles vaccine (Zostavax®) to prevent shingles and PHN. Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Zostavax may still be used to prevent shingles in healthy adults 60 years and older. For example, you could use Zostavax if a person is allergic to Shingrix, prefers Zostavax, or requests immediate vaccination and Shingrix is unavailable. 

Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) was licensed by the FDA in 2006. This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51% and PHN by 67%. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy. 

Who Should Get Shingles Vaccine? 

People 60 years of age or older should get shingles vaccine (Zostavax). They should get the vaccine whether or not they recall having had chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus as shingles. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans aged 40 and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the disease. There is no maximum age for getting shingles vaccine. Continue reading here. 

My friend gulped and told me that perhaps she should go get herself vaccinated. If you are on the fence, read the information and give it serious thought. Shingles is a disease not to be taken lightly.