I wonder if anyone has been given the new Shingrix vaccine which I understand is ok for people with autoimmune disorders and over 90% preventive whereas the older vaccine, Zostavax, is apparently contraindicated for autoimmune disorders.
Thank you for asking; I have the same question. I am on 8.5 mg of pred right now, tapering with the slow method and would like to get the 2nd shingles vaccine. Thoughst? Much appreciat4ed.
Actually, no I've not had it YET, but was getting ready 2 ask 4 it at my next primary's visit. I'm glad you said something as I hadn't even thought about the ramifications of the autoimmune aspect of it! Thanks!
My primary has given me the ok for the vaccine. I am presently on 5mg of pred.
Shingrix is preferable because it's made from killed virus so can't trigger shingles as apparently Zostavax could. However I don't think it's been used long enough to know if other side effects could be serious. My husband has had the first of the required two shots and was knocked out feeling awful for about 24 hours (like he had the flu), and then back to normal. So could Shingrix trigger PMR-type pain? i don't think we know yet.
I'm wondering the same thing. I haven't had PMR for a while, probably about 3 - 4 months at least, but did have that awful fall causing 3 pelvic fractures, for which I'm still taking outpatient PT, still using a walker, a W/C on longer jaunts, and not actually back to normal yet. I see my MD in 2 weeks, and I should ask him. I've had enough problems and don't want to exacerbate anything, nor do I want to get shingles. I did have the Zosta.... a few yrs ago with no side effects.
I was told by my pharmacist that the old vaccine would not keep me from getting shingles since I've already had shingles once. She did say though that it would help reduce the pain I would have. I did not end up getting that shingles vaccine. So I'm wondering if anyone knows if the new vaccine would keep me from getting shingles again.
I was diagnosed with PMR/GCA 8 years ago and am currently on 5mg Pred a day. At the moment I am having my eighth outbreak of shingles in as many years, each one more painful and lasting longer than the previous outbreak. Because of Pred I cannot have the live vaccine and am desperate to try the new Shingrix, so if anyone has tried it whilst taking Pred I would be most interested in the outcome. I am assuming Ricky that you live in the USA/Canada as I believe these are the only countries it is available at the moment and will not be available in Europe for some time yet.
In fact the rubrics say that the old vaccine is safe when the patient is on a low dose of pred. BUT (and for me it is a big BUT) Merck, the manufacturers, say an adverse event found during trials is polymyalgia rheumatica! If it can cause it - it does seem to me to be something we shouldn't even be offered!
You may find this thread interesting:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pred-vaccinations-667832
The first reply is by me so I won't restate it all - but the link to the LupusUK thread is thought-provoking. If it does make the immune system even more active - what is the potential for anyone with an autoimmune disorder?
Those of us in Europe probably don't have the option yet anyway - but I shall be very reticent.
Great point Eileen!! A true case of "what were they thinking"???
Remember Merck were the company who thought it would be a good idea to get well people onto pills so they became patients and also boosted their coffers. They were also the people who first introduced statins. Didn’t they do well?
We were friends with a Merck rep many years ago and they had a super new BP drug. I had pre-eclampsia (they said) and as my BP continued to rise episodically the medics put me on this drug. Our friend was furious - it had not been tested in pregnant women. It hadn't been typical pre-eclampsia, no fluid retention, no protein in urine, just hypertension. Until I took the first tablet: I sat on the edge of my bed, noticed I'd stopped sweating and my feet swelled up like footballs. It all turned out OK - but I did often wonder how lucky I had been.
One is left to ask whether it was doctors who encouraged Merck to become so keen to use their drugs everywhere?
I think it was the M.D. or someone important in Merck who had the brilliant idea of giving tablets to the well. Now rather than initially getting people to improve lifestyle they are given drugs, great for the pharmaceutical companies. Also the QOF point system actually encourages doctors to give drugs as soon as you are a little bit over say with BP. As it means more money. Thought up by the BMA. As bad as the pharmaceuticals. The normal range is being reduced all the time so that by now everyone over 70 should be on blood pressure tablets. They have not taken into account that as you grow older the normal changes, being cynical, perhaps they have. The three big ones are diabetes, hypertension and statins. Big Money.
Ricky, it was offered to me and I declined. I came down with PMR sometime after my first shingles vaccine shot, so I am not getting any more shots till I am off Prednisone. Good luck, stay active, positive and smile. ☺️
Shingrix claims to be something like 97% effective, whereas Zostavax was closer to 50%. I don't have the figures in front of me but they are easy to find on the internet, I'm just too lazy to look. I read about it yesterday. Both vaccines lose potency over the years, but it is expected that Shingrix will retain its potency longer than Zostavax.
Merck is also the company which is responsible for osteoporosis drug Fosamax (alendronate sodium), now the target of many lawsuits.
Hi, Ricky.
I had my first (of two) Shingrix vaccine injections about two weeks ago. My rheumatologist had me wait until my Prednisone dose was down to 5 mg. before giving me the okay to have the shot. She believes -- rightly or wrongly-- that it would not be maximally effective on higher doses of Prednisone.
My husband (who suffers from a different autoimmune illness but is now completely off of Prednisone) had his second shot the same day I had my first. We both had sore, hot arms for several days following the injection. I, however, also had a general feeling of "malaise" -- aching muscles, headache, tiredness. The flu-like symptoms lasted for about 48 hours. After 72 hours my arm felt better and I no longer felt as if I was sick.
At the same time that I received the vaccine, a close friend had shingles for the second time. She had only received the Zostavax a number of years ago. Her symptoms -- minus the rash -- sounded just like what I had experienced after the Shingrix.
Glad I had the vaccine after experiencing even a mild case of "shingles-lite."
I had forgotten AA. They have recently introduced a new drug that can be taken with statins, so will have another patent on that and more money, as the statins one has run out I think. The trouble is the GPs let them get away with it. I suppose it makes life easy for them and in U.K. they get paid for doing it.
Was it approved?