Crucial Points to Consider About the Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine has been recommended for everyone over the age of 60, but there are still many people who have not even heard of the shingles virus. Until quite recently, not much progress has been made in managing the disease, and there is still a lot that is not understood about how it develops and reactivates in the body. Las Vegas medical clinics can advise you if you should get a vaccine or provide you with medication if you have been struck by a shingles outbreak. If you are weighing up the pros and cons of getting a shingles vaccine, here are some considerations to bear in mind:

The vaccine is 51 per cent effective

Despite being recommended for everyone over the age of 60, the vaccine is only about 51 per cent effective. The good news is that its efficacy improves as you get older, as it has been proven 64 per cent effective in people aged between 60 and 69 years of age.

You may be at more risk than you think

The government considers 99 per cent of the population to have been exposed to the chicken pox virus, which means that the same number of people is technically at risk for developing shingles in their lives. Interestingly, the chicken pox virus has also improved peoples immunity to shingles, and the shingles vaccine is almost the same as for chicken pox, except it is about 14 times stronger.

There are some people who can’t have the vaccine

If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant in the next three months, you can’t have the vaccine. People who have an illness or fever are also not suitable candidates, and those who have immune deficiencies are also not permitted to have it.

There could be possible complications

Even though complications are unusual, there are some you should know about. Some of the more common complications from the vaccine include local pain at the injections site, swelling and redness. Headaches, joint pain, and a rash on the skin are also possible complications. More severe complications include swollen glands and anaphylactic shock.

Having the vaccine can protect you from post herpetic neuralgia

A small proportion of the people who develop shingles are at risk of developing a very uncomfortable complication called post herpetic neuralgia. This can persist for months or years, and can also cause fatal complications in older people.

If you want to stay safe and protect yourself as you get older, low cost clinics in Las Vegas can provide medication to help you get over shingles quickly or provide you with information you need to decide whether you should have a vaccination.