Understanding Shingles and the Importance of Vaccination

Introduction
As we age, our bodies become more susceptible to various health conditions, and one of those is shingles. This painful viral infection can significantly impact your quality of life. However, there is good news: shingles is preventable. In this blog post, we will delve into what shingles is, the cause, who it affects, and most importantly, the benefits of getting the shingles vaccine.

What is Shingles?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerve tissues. For reasons not entirely understood, the virus can reactivate years later, resulting in shingles.

Symptoms of Shingles
The symptoms of shingles usually start with pain, burning, or tingling in a specific area, followed by a red rash that usually develops into blisters. Other symptoms may include:

- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light

The rash typically appears on one side of the body and can last for 2 to 4 weeks.

Who is at Risk?
Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles; however, it is most common in individuals aged 50 and older. Other factors that can increase your risk of developing shingles include:

• -A weakened immune system due to medications or health conditions.
  - High levels of stress.
  - Previous infections or conditions that compromise immunity.

• Most people recover from shingles without any problems.

  But it can cause complications, such as:

  • post-herpetic neuralgia - this is where pain lasts for months after the shingles rash has gone
  • the rash gets infected - you may need antibiotics
  • scarring or changes in skin colour after the rash has healed
  • muscle weakness
  • eye problems - these can lead to sight loss
  • Ramsay Hunt syndrome - this is a rare condition where shingles causes weakness on 1 side of your face and sometimes hearing problems

  You can reduce your risk of complications by getting treatment as soon as possible after your symptoms start.

The Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
The shingles vaccine, known as Shingrix, is recommended for adults aged 50 and older, regardless of whether they recall having shingles before. Shingrix is a non-live, recombinant vaccine that has been shown to be highly effective in preventing shingles and its complications.

Benefits of Getting Vaccinated
1. Reduced Risk of Shingles: Studies have shown that receiving the shingles vaccine can reduce your risk of developing shingles by more than 90%. This means fewer people experience the pain and discomfort associated with the infection.

2. Lower Chance of Complications: While shingles can lead to complications such as postherpetic neuralgia, the vaccine significantly decreases the likelihood of these long-term issues.

3. Peace of Mind: Knowing you’ve taken proactive steps to protect your health can provide peace of mind, allowing you to focus on enjoying life without the looming threat of shingles.

4. Community Health: Vaccination can contribute to broader community immunity, helping to protect those who may be unable to receive the vaccine due to health conditions.

Conclusion
Shingles is more than just a rash; it can lead to debilitating pain and complications that can affect your daily life. The good news is that vaccination against this viral infection is highly effective and recommended for older adults. If you are aged 50 or older, now is the perfect time to talk to your healthcare provider about the shingles vaccine and take a proactive step in protecting your health.

At Backhouse Pharmacy, we’re here to answer your questions about shingles and vaccination. Don’t hesitate to reach out or visit us to learn more. Your health is our priority!

Unfortunately the vaccine is only available privately, so you have to pay to get it. You cannot get it through your medical card or drug payment scheme.

To register your interest for the vaccine just click the link below

https://backhousepharmacy.ie/pages/shingles

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!

Martin