# I done TOLD that SOB I needed a shingles vaccine!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903 "2014-10-09T21:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/21 "2014-10-13T17:34:40Z")
Had shingles back about 25 years ago. On my left shoulder blade. Every time I moved my shirt rubbed against it. Get the damned shot. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/22 "2014-10-13T17:40:43Z")
Why it works: in the past, people who had the chicken pox would come into contact with the virus again through the normaal course of social contact. This kept the immune system producing the occasional macrophage so immunity stayed “current.” Now, with everyone getting vaccinated that doean’t happen, and my generation is experiencing a resurgence of the disease: Shingles. What I don’t get at all, is why the first experience od Shingles makes a second one more likely, rather than re-invigorating the immunity. For those who want to know what it’s like: It began last week with a prickling in the skin of my right arm, like a traveling itch that I couldn’t quite locate. That was followed by a bone-deep pain coursing down my arm. It felt like my bones had been heated to ceramic-level temperatures and we’re slowly burning their way out of my flesh. That was the point where I wondered if this was a heart attack. Then there was this strange painful lumpiness near the tip of my middle finger. I like to think my body already knew what was happening and tried to flip off the virus. 😉 If that was true, the virus got seriously pissed off. The fingertip then erupted into evil looking fluid-filled blisters. The blisters feel like a 2nd degree burn that also has poison ivy. Two more patches appeared up the length of my arm. Then the flu hit. Nausea, chills, full body aches, the whole gamut. I coughed rarely, but when I did it felt like my right arm was being crushed in a hydraulic press and my brain was being battered against the top of my skull. Now the burn-itch blisters cover most of the top side of my arm, and shooting pains throughout the arm wake me several times each night. This is day 5 or 6, and it is still getting worse. Seriously folks, sell the silver if you have to, but get that vaccine. Anything that reduces the likelihood of this is worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/23 "2014-10-13T21:44:34Z")
I had the post-herpetic neuralgia last time I had them, and I am hoping I don’t get it this time. Nothing but elastic waist pants for a year. Nothing at all fitted on top, and a drop to your knees and cry pain that would show up with no warning at all. I haven’t really been out of bed much since Wednesday, but I’m feeling a little better today. Last time I had them I dropped about ten pounds in a week and had to be hospitalized. This time I’m starting underweight, and I’ve lost a bit. My husband is always getting food for me, which sounds like it should be fun, but it’s not. I would love to be able to sleep more than three hours at a time before I wake up in pain. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/24 "2014-10-14T01:14:36Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I didn’t even know there was a shingles vaccine. > > The question has already been asked, but why are doctors reluctant to prescribe it? Roofing nails are 1.99 a box? …well, its generally not a popular answer… ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/25 "2014-10-14T01:44:45Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > shingles is very painful and can go away. > > post-herpetic neuralgia, which is possible after shingles, can last a lifetime. 40% of those over 60 who get shingles develop it. it can be untreatable. That’s my mom. She has the worst post-shingles neuralgia on her neck. A light scarf hurts. Her shirt collar. Bra strap. She’s in a lot pain most days. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903/26 "2014-10-14T05:39:26Z")
Probably an important thing to remember is that for only a 50% chance of the disease. It prevents 50% of cases that would have happened without vaccination. It was easy to find numbers like 1 in 5 get it in there life time but all the evidence points to late life the odds go up (as immune function goes down). That also rolls in people with other risk factors not someone younger without risk factors. I couldn’t find something specific to risk 50-59. I did find a quote [here:](http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2008/October/Should_you_get_the_shingles_vaccine) > [@](#): > > In fact, by some estimates, you would expect about 5,000 cases of “natural” shingles for every million persons getting the vaccine. Assuming that’s the odds before 60 without other risk factors, that’s 1 in 200 chance to get shingles without vaccine. That means 1 in 400 with 50% effective vaccine. At $250 a pop that’s $100,000 per case prevented. The link above also covers some other possible concerns that might motivate waiting: - The link gives conflicting answers on whether the vaccine can cause shingles. In two cases the testing was done that found the vaccine virus instead of the natural virus in the rash. It’s at least possible, if rare, and not thoroughly tested yet. - Some research points to weakening effectiveness with time. Getting it early would mean either less effectiveness when it was most needed or boosters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-done-told-that-sob-i-needed-a-shingles-vaccine/700903.md?page=1)