Why do I get the herpes zoster vaccine as fast as possible

I have two things planned for my 50th birthday. Both of them involve needles. First, piercing the nose. Second, the herpes zoster vaccine.

You can say both are selfish choices. The first is that I copy the older woman I know who has fought stereotypes, refusing to wither into boring old age. The second is about avoiding pain. I have heard the story of how bad herpes zoster, and honestly, I really want to be in pain. So I’m not waiting. I rolled my sleeve.

To get a herpes zoster vaccine, you must be 50 years old and have chickenpox. I checked the two boxes. (I have chickenpox when I was 7 years old, and that’s sad.) Maybe you think to miss it. Maybe you hate needles, or you are worried about side effects, or you think Herpes Zoster is not too serious. But this is the problem: herpes zoster is sick, and it hurts.

The pain is called ‘Neuralgia postherpetic.’ “It can last for weeks or even years,” said Laurie Archbald-Pannone, MD. “I have a patient that has been weakened by this pain.”

Where did herpes zoster come from?

Herpes zoster comes from the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is “hiding in our bodies after we recover from chickenpox, for years, in the nerves in our spine.”

Years later, it was “wake up or reactivated,” said Archbald-Pannone. “The virus comes out of the nerves. This is why a rash or pain with herpes zoster is usually only on the one hand.”

Why does the virus wake up? As we get older, our immune system weakens. This gives a virus the opportunity to develop. That is why people over the age of 50 are the most risky.

What does herpes zoster feel like?

And when does it touch? Herpes zoster can very painful. We talk about burning pain, piercing, nerves that can last several weeks or even for months. Some people also get a blisters rash, usually on one side of the body or face. In bad cases, it can disrupt your vision or cause eternal nerve damage.

The good news? Archbald-Pannone notes that the vaccine “works very well in preventing shingles that can occur for several months or even longer.”

This vaccine is effective for reducing risk:

• Get herpes zoster
• Have painful symptoms
• Long -term complications

Your arm may hurt for one or two days after a shot, but it is not compared to the suffering of shingles. One of our author’s father experienced herpes zoster scars and pain that would not stop.

How to get a herpes zoster vaccine

Getting herpes zoster vaccine is easy, fast, and cheap. You can get it without an appointment in most of the big pharmacies. And it is borne by most insurance packages.

Next time you go shopping for food, take a few minutes and get the shot. That’s all you have to do.

This is a two -part vaccine

Before you leave, you must note that the vaccine has 2 parts. After the first dose, you must return for the second, about 3 months later.

I got it on my calendar to get my second dose. I don’t want to forget. If you miss the second dose, the vaccine does not work either.

The second dose is more painful some people

The pharmacist who gave me the first herpes zoster vaccination shot I warned me. He said that many people felt a little sick and weak after the second dose. He advised me to plan a shot before the weekend when I could relax.

The reaction of the vaccine is not a sign that the vaccine is dangerous. Like whatever you put into your body, whether it is medicine, supplements, medicines, or food, even positive impacts can have side effects.

If you are worried about shots, talk about your pharmacist about taking ibuprofen or tylenol to help reduce pain or other symptoms. You can also check our Zoster Faq Herpes.

Go to get it!

The point is, no matter how many partner shots can be painful or if they make you sick, there is no effect that almost matches pain and the dangers of getting herpes zoster.

So, if you are over 50 years old and have chickenpox as a child, help yourself: Get a herpes zoster vaccine. This is a gift for yourself in the future – which is far more painful than the alternative.

Nasal enforcement, of course, is really optional.