I have booked myself in for the shingles jab, but do I need it as I have never had chicken pox? I was reading about shingles and apparently if you have had chicken pox when young, in later life the virus that caused the chicken pox can come back causing shingles. I had most of the childhood viruses, but never chicken pox or whooping cough. Should I check with my surgery as I’m not going to have it unnecessarily. Thanks.
Information on the sheet I was given suggests having the jab whatever your circumstances except if there is a chance of allergic reaction. Had mine last week.
Trouble is now, of course, on reading, if I’m ever exposed to shingles I could get chicken pox. On recall though my Dad had shingles in his 50’s and I never got chicken pox so perhaps I’m immune. Now, I’m sitting waiting to get through to the Surgery to see if I can get the pneumonia jab instead, takes forever to get through.
NHS advice is to have the shingles vaccine whether or not you’ve had chicken pox as some/many people have had chicken pox unknowingly and without any symptoms.
NHS also say to have the vaccine even if you’ve had shingles.
Oh well I’ll keep my appointment and talk to the Nurse about it, perhaps she can ask a Doctor. Surely if I am given it and never had chicken pox am I going to react to it.