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As I see it, stress is a major cause to bring on shingles. I have a friend who in her later 60's and was retired and got a puppy and the stress from training that puppy 24 hrs daily, took her into shingles.....keeping calm as can be and using calming supports, I believe, can keep "S" from our bodies...again I'm 79 and no sign .. thank goodness.
Keeping body and mind in a calmer state can do wonders...meditation is a great starter.
Stress is believed to be a trigger for shingles, but who of us lives a totally stress free life, especially as we get older? The vaccine is not perfect, but it reduces the risk by half, and if you get shingles anyway it tends to be less severe, with less risk of persistent, painful, nerve pain. The nerve pain can be terrible and sometimes never goes away.
As other posters have said, the efficacy of all vaccines goes down with the age of the patient. It doesn't mean they are entirely ineffective, just that the chance of developing immunity is lessened as we age.
I had shingles when I was about thirty-five and it was pretty uncomfortable. At that time acyclovir wasn't available so the only treatment I could obtain was pain meds. You can believe that as soon as I was old enough to have my insurance cover the vaccination I got it.
I advise you to get vaccinated. The potential benefit far exceeds any detriment if it isn't effective.
SQ, stress is everywhere IF we let it control us. There are MANY ways to keep stress down, believe me, MANY WAYS. Being mindful is necessary. Catching oneself when going in a stress situation. The old timers had their share of stress and modern time folks have their share. Too living where it's more sane re: traffic, people is a factor. I live in a crazy hectic area of the U.S. and have learned to keep calm no matter what.
Just a side note, I have a young man who is 24 living in our apt bldg and he is so rare and as he says, it's crazy out there and where is everyone going. He's very involved in meditation and goes on retreats to support his passion.
I got my shingles vaccination about two days after I heard that it was out and available! Probably I over reacted because if I had waited 6 months, it would have been free through Medicare, but I had seen an aunt suffer from shingles and would do anything to avoid that degree of suffering.
I've know of young people who got it on their backs but it went away. My aunt had it so badly that all she could do was lie on her bed. Nothing could touch her. She couldn't even stand to have a sheet over her. That is no kind of life.
Even if you do still get shingles, it will be a less severe case.
I had shingles in my early 40s. I asked about the vaccine a few times after that, but they said it was not approved under 50 and I had to wait - got it right after my 50th birthday!
Even if the vaccine doesn't completely prevent it from occurring, if it minimizes how bad it is, it's still well worth it IMO.
My husband got a shingles vaccination in his mid 60's, but still got shingles. Very mild and did not go to his doctor for a week. My 32 year old SIL also got Shingles and it looked exactly like what my husband had. Just a patch of about an inch. Itchy. 30 somethings are not recommended for that vaccination. Both my husband and SIL went to work for a week before going to a doctor. My SIL had a Newborn when he had shingles. Doctor told him to just wear a shirt around his baby.
Afterwards, my husband asked his doctor if he should get another Shingles Vaccination. His doctor said not to bother again because once someone has had Shingles, the ,2nd vaccination is only about 10% effective.
I am almost 69, never had the vaccination, or shingles, but my Millennial SIL HAS? That's bad.
Had a friend whose 80+ year old mother had it in her eye!
I'm going now for the new one that you can get when you hit 60. There are now 2 types.
Oh boy, I turn 60 an get a shot for my bday Sounds like childhood.
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Sounds like childhood.