Hi.
Just wanted to get some opinions on this topic.
Ive been looking at medical information and it suggests that if you’ve had cancer, you should have the Shingles jab.
Well ive had breast cancer/mastectomy and now I have a bout of Shingles.
Because im not 50, Im not eligible to have the Shingles vaccine.
Im probably saying, shouldn’t these vaccines be based on vulnerability and not just old age? Im 49 with Lupus and Breast Cancer.
Am I not more vulnerable than my father or mother in law, they’re over 70 and have no health issues.
Hi
I had my shingles last year and mine was due to vulnerability and not age. I am older than you and I know the age factor is confusing to everyone as to who can and can’t have it, but I would check with your doctor or nurse.
I’m with you on this one . There are guidelines and some people who are vulnerable do seem to be able to get it - you sound as though you would qualify to me but there’s a lot of confusion about it . You could try speaking to your GP directly and plead your case / get him to authorize it .If you just ring up and ask or try to book it will be a case of " computer says no" . My friend who is on Methotrexate permanently did get hers eventually but only because she spoke to the GP directly and he wrote down that she was entitled . When she turned up for it the Nurse was not going to give it initially . Xx
I didn’t know about the correlation of shingles and cancer/treatment. I’m 39 y/o and developed shingles 4 days after finishing radiation. Also wishing a vaccine had been offered!
I’ve had shingles 12 times in the last 24 months. Told at a mammogram in December (was referred on the 2 week thing as I found a lump) that it’s most likely cancer and Had a mastectomy at the end of January.
I caught shingles last year a couple of weeks before my radiotherapy, when I asked about the vaccine later last year when getting the flu jab I was told I didn’t qualify as I was 59.
From what I understand they try to give it to you when you’re at your most vulnerable - so over 65 so it lasts for the rest of your life otherwise your immunity might run out at some point and nobody would know when that would happen.
Obviously we catch shingles from ourselves from ourselves as once we have had chicken pox the virus doesn’t leave us but lies dormant looking for an opportunity to come out when we are at a bit of a low ebb . Obviously for many of us that’s when we are going through cancer treatment . I wish there was more leeway in the system for more of us to get the vaccine sooner - I’m 60 this year and worried about the problems should I get it on my face as I’ve already lost a lot of the sight in one eye. Xx