If you've ever known someone who has had shingles, you may wonder what you can do to avoid having to go through this health problem. Well, there is one thing that could help, and it's called a shingles vaccination. This vaccine is designed to help prevent you from getting this horrible skin rash, but it is not for everyone. Here are a few things you should know that may help you decide if it is right for you.
Your age
The shingles is a painful rash that typically lasts for three to five weeks, and anyone that has had chickenpox at any time in their life is at risk for developing shingles. Today, doctors issue chickenpox vaccinations to most children. Anyone who receives the appropriate number of chickenpox vaccinations will probably never contract shingles.
It's important to realize that getting the shingles vaccination might be a good idea even if you do not think you have ever had chickenpox. This vaccination will not harm you in any way in this situation.
If you are at least 60 years old, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting this vaccination. This is primarily because people are at the highest risk for developing shingles when they reach this age. You can, however, get the vaccination sooner if you would like. It's important to realize that this vaccination does not stop your chances of getting the shingles by 100%, but it does reduce the risk that you will acquire this rash.
Your health
The second factor to consider when making the decision whether or not to get the shingles vaccination is your current health situation. If you are healthy overall, you might be a good candidate for this vaccine, but you will not be a good candidate if you are pregnant or have a weak immune system. In addition, you should avoid getting this if you have ever experienced a gelatin allergic reaction. Gelatin is an ingredient in this vaccination, and getting this shot could lead to another allergic reaction for anyone that has had a reaction in the past.
The shingles vaccination lasts for five years and can help you avoid getting shingles. If you would like to find out more about this, talk to your doctor today. If your doctor's office is not open, you can always visit an urgent care center such as Meadowbrook Urgent Care to find out more about this important vaccination.
Share5 August 2016
When my daughter began having academic problems in school and acting out, I knew that something wasn’t right. Her teachers wanted me to put her on ADD medications, but I didn’t think that that was the right course for us. I had serious doubts that ADD was what was causing her problems. I took her to several different specialists before discovering that her issues in school were actually do to a visual processing problem. The doctor recommended vision therapy, not medication, to help correct the problem and get her back on track. The exercises are really starting to pay off, and she’s showing great improvement.
