Shingles are painful rashes caused by similar virus known as varicella zoster that is responsible for the occurrence of chicken pox. Having chicken pox during your childhood days does not actually mean that the virus has completely vanished as what many individuals believed. This hides dormant in the body and can emerge again on later years as shingles.
There are about one million cases of shingles recorded per year according to CDC and half of this number occurs among individuals aging 60 years old and above. Good thing is that Shingles vaccine is now made available and these are primarily used to reduce the risk of shingles.
Who Must Get Shingles Vaccine?
Older individuals are more prone to developing shingles therefore they are the ones who must get Zostavax or shingle vaccine the most. This is recommended for adults aging 60 years old and above. Studies revealed that getting the vaccine help reduce half the risk of shingles or even more than that. Getting the vaccine helps a lot in avoiding painful complications of the nerve from particular disease. Giving shingles vaccine to individuals aging 50 to 59 years old. Before getting the vaccine, individuals must be aware of Shingles Vaccine side effects.
Who Should Not Get Shingle Vaccine
These vaccines generally contain particular ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions in some persons. Avoid getting the vaccine if you are allergic to antibiotic, gelatin, neomycin and other known ingredients included in the vaccine. Those individuals with weak immune system are also not advised to take a shot especially if the immune system weakens because of HIV/AIDS or other serious medical condition.
Individuals who are taking drugs that lower immune response like steroids are not advised to get the vaccine. Those who have Cancer and taking anti-cancer drugs and treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy are likewise not advised to get Shingles vaccine. These vaccines might benefit individuals in many ways but can also affect them especially when suffering unwanted and bothersome Shingles Vaccine side effects.
The Top 5 Most Common Shingles Vaccine Side Effects
The common side effects brought by Shingles Vaccine are as follows:
1. Sore throat
2. Breathing problems
3. Flu Symptoms
4. Fever
5. Swollen Glands
Mild Shingles Vaccine Side Effects
There are also less serious Shingles Vaccine side effects that have been recorded and these include muscle or joint pain, diarrhea, mild skin rashes, headache, warmth, redness, itching, bruising and swelling on the area where the vaccine is given. Minimal numbers of individuals have been complaining about these side effects after they have been vaccinated. Shingles vaccine has been tested on thousands of individuals to ensure safety and efficacy. These vaccines are safely administered most of the time. When this vaccine poses reactions, these are usually mild.
Serious Shingles Vaccine Side Effects
Some people have probably come across or experience Shingles Vaccine side effects. Individuals might also develop serious allergic reactions to shingle virus but only on rare cases. This allergic reaction is referred to as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis are swelling in the face such as eyes and mouth, redness and warmth of the skin, hives, and dizziness, breathing difficulties, slow pulse and irregular heartbeat. If you happen to display these symptoms after taking the shingles vaccine, you are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible because some of Shingles vaccine side effects can be life-threatening.
