Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox – the herpes-zoster virus. Once you have the virus, it remains in your body, and can become active again in later life where it develops into shingles.
95% of adults aged 50 years or older already have the virus that causes shingles. It can be reactivated at any time and the risk increases as the immune system natuarally gets weaker as we grow older.
Most people only experience shingles once, but it's possible to get shingles again. In 1 out of 3 people, the dormant varicella zoster virus reactivates and causes shingles. Shingles is caused by a virus that you already carry, so you cannot protect yourself by social distancing.
Shingles can be a very painful disease that can have serious complications. The most common condition is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) with severe pain in the healed area that can last up to several years.
PHN affects upto 20% of people over 50 years of age with shingles. Other complications can include scarring, and loss of vision and hearing.
The vaccine not only helps reduce your risk of developing shingles, but can lessen the severity and duration of any symptoms if you do get shingles, as well as reducing your risk of developing PHN.
Studies have shown that four months after two doses of the Shingrix vaccine that its effectiveness at preventing shingles was >90% in adults over 50 years old
If you do get shingles, the vaccine can also help reduce the severity of the symptoms and also the risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the long-lasting nerve pain that follows shingles.
To avail of our Shingles vaccination service, simply book an appointment online for a time that's convenient for you.
The second dose is usually given two months after the first dose but can be given upto six months later if necessary.
Shingles is typically a painful rash with blisters that form scabs within 7 to 10 days. It normally takes 2 to 4 weeks for the skin to heal. More than 90% of people who develop shingles feel severe nerve pain and many describe the sensation as aching, burning, stabbing or electric shocks. 1 to 5 days before the rash appears, you may have pain, itching, tingling and numbness on an area of the skin where the rash will develop.
The rash usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of the body, or sometimes on the face along a nerve path. It can develop on the arm, thigh, head or even the eye or ear. The most common locations are the chest and abdomen. The symptoms can also include fever, headaches or feeling generally unwell.
Anyone who’s had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles, as the virus remains in certain nerves of the body and can become active again as time goes on. You may be at greater risk if you:
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are aged over 50
• Have become ill
The shingles vaccine is not recommended if pregnant.
You shouldn’t get the shingles vaccine if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to any of the shingles vaccine components.
If you’re in any doubt, talk to our Pharmacists, who can give you more information about the vaccination and advise whether it’s suitable for you.
Occasionally, people develop side-effects after a shingles vaccination but most usually aren’t serious and go away in a few days. See below for the side-effects that can be experienced with the Shingrix Vaccine.
Shingrix Vaccine Side Effects
• Very common: Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, headache, stomach and digestive complaints, muscle pain, tiredness, chills fever
• Common: itching where the injection is given (pruritus), generally feeling unwell
• Uncommon: swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin, joint pain
It’s important you remain in store for 15 minutes after your vaccination, in case you experience any immediate side-effects. If this happens, we have procedures in place to deal with this condition.
If you develop a chickenpox-like rash after being vaccinated, you should avoid direct contact with people who haven’t had it until your rash is dry and crusted, e.g. infants.
For more information the patient information leaflet for Singrix is available here.
