Will they give it to you if you're younger? I'm 51. I've had two younger sisters get shingles--one was 28 and the other 32 at the time. My 49 year old brother in law got shingles last month as well. Weird--I'd never heard of shingles 10 years ago.
As mentioned, Flu Mist will not likely be available again this year. But as to the concern about viral shedding from that vaccine, yes you can shed it BUT that live vaccine has been modified such that it cannot live in normal human body temperatures. It can only live in your nose as it is cooler than the rest of your body. The same it true for anyone that might be exposed to any shed virus from the vaccine.Regarding the flu vaccine, I read somewhere that you can shed the virus if you get the flu mist instead of the injection.
If I'm remembering correctly, our pediatrician's office supported this idea.
DH and I want to get the vaccine now that we've turned 60 (the age when our doctor recommends them). I am 99% sure I had chicken pox, as my Mom said I did. But. What happens if a person gets the vaccine but never did have chicken pox?
And, about the flu shot, I always get mine in October and was going to get it yesterday but we'll be meeting our new great-granddaughter this coming Sunday. She was born September 7th and this is our first chance to meet her so in the back of my mind I was thinking I read somewhere that you shouldn't get the flu shot if you're going to be around newborns, is that correct? I decided to wait until after we meet her. After this Sunday I probably won't have the chance to see her again until about a week before Christmas, so all should be well by that time, right?
As for the age to get the shot, I was told it varies by state. I wanted to get the shot since I have a compromised immune system. My state only will give the shot if you are over 60. I was told it had nothing to do with insurance as I was willing to pay out of pocket. They physically will not give it to you if you are under 60. Each state sets their own age. Some states will give it between ages 50-59 if you have a doctors note stating you need it. I don't think I have heard of anyone under 50 getting the shot.
They wouldn't give you the shingles shot with a compromised immune system? That's nuts. While I was in the hospital they gave me vaccines for everything in world and I don't have systemic issues.
Nope, they said it is a state law. By law they can't give it to you if you are under sixty. Does not matter why you want or need the shot, does not matter if you are wiling to pay out of pocket, you have to be sixty to get it. I called many places and spoke to many medical people and that was what they all told me.
You're SO young to have great-grandchildren! Nuts! My folks had their first (and likely only) grandchild at like 65 and they weren't old parents by any stretch, neither was my younger brother. Are you loving it? Are you so excited? My parents were over the moon about my nephew. Is this your first? I bet you're the best looking (and just best) great-grandparent around!
LOL!! My husband and I got married right out of high school, we were both barely 18. And we had our son at 18 and daughter at 20 years old. Our son and his girlfriend (later, his first wife) had their first child when he was only 17 and a senior in high school. It was a difficult situation, but turned out fine in the long run. Our 21-year-old grandson was the one who made us great-grandparents. And, as a matter of fact, we finally got to meet our sweet great-granddaughter JUST this afternoon!! I was over-the-moon to sit and hold her, she is adorable I must say! She was only 5 lb. 8 oz. when she was born and unfortunately has acid reflux. She is 5 weeks old and has only managed to gain about a pound. She is so teeny tiny, but just a little sweet doll. My mom passed away in July and I had been really hoping she could "hold on" long enough to meet her great-great granddaughter but it wasn't meant to be, that was the only sadness I felt this afternoon while holding her. We did get a nice 5-generation photo with the baby, her daddy, our son, my husband and his Dad as well.
you can just get a blood test to see if you have had the chicken pox or not- at my last annual blood work they checks all my titers to make sure I still had immunity- my chicken pox vaccine had worn off so I needed to get a new one of those.
As for getting the shingles vaccine, at least in our experience (NJ), DH and I got them this past summer. Our doctors do not give them and recommend going to a minute clinic or pharmacy. However, we need a script from the doctor in order to get them. Not like a flu vaccine, jo
From the CDC:
Zostavax, the shingles vaccine, reduced the risk of shingles by 51% and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67% based on a large study of more than 38,000 adults aged 60 years or older. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years.
While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older.
Adults vaccinated before age 60 years might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest.