IF YOU’RE eligible for the new shingles vaccine, don’t hesitate about getting it.
That’s the word from a fit and healthy Phillip Island man in his early 60s who can’t go surfing at the moment after contracting the nasty ailment.
“Some of the rash is right on my wrist where the arm of my wetsuit comes down. I don’t want to risk breaking the rash,” he said.
The local man, who has asked to stay anonymous because he’s frankly embarrassed about it, said the shingles came on him completely unexpectedly after the AFL Grand Final weekend.
“All of a sudden, I started getting this terrible throbbing pain in my arm that I couldn’t explain. It’s hard to describe what it felt like, but it was excruciating.”
Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus to which as many as 95 per cent of Australians have evidence of antibodies to the contagious chickenpox virus, even though they’ve never had obvious symptoms.
The first signs that the dormant chickenpox virus has been reactivated as shingles can include headache, fatigue, itching, shooting or stabbing pain, tenderness, or a burning sensation or aching in the body.
“It’s not like getting a bad dose of the flu. You can’t do anything.”
It was some days before the rash on his arm and hand started to show but, in the meantime, it was distressing to find out that he couldn’t get in to see a doctor.
“They said they didn’t have an appointment for three days. I didn’t know what I had, I was in pain, and it was a bit of a worry.
“I had chicken pox as a kid, but I didn’t realise I was at risk of getting shingles.”
From November 1, older Australians will have free access to the best protection against shingles through one of the most comprehensive and widely available vaccination programs in the world.
The Australian Government announced last weekend that it is investing $826.8 million to provide almost 5 million people, at risk of shingles, with a free Shingrix® vaccine under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
This includes everyone aged 65 years and over, First Nations people 50 years and over, and immunocompromised people 18 years and over at high risk of herpes zoster infection.
Shingrix® provides around 10 years of protection and usually costs up to $560 – for almost 5 million people that will now be free.
Health Minister Mark Butler said without the vaccination, almost one in three Australians will get shingles in their lifetime.
“Thanks to the Albanese Government older Australians will now have free access to the best protection against shingles through one of the most comprehensive and widely available vaccination programs in the world,” said Minister Butler.
“This investment will ensure nearly five million Australians can get free protection from shingles and the very painful nerve damage that it causes.
“Shingles can be severe, so it’s really important that eligible people talk to their GP or pharmacist about getting the shingles vaccine.”
The vaccine is expected to be widely available in regional areas, but local pharmacies are yet to be advised when and if they are getting the vaccine.
One in 5 people with shingles will develop severe nerve pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia that can last months or even years. In some cases, it may be permanent.
The risk of developing shingles increases with age and people aged 65 years and over are at highest risk of complications like post-herpetic neuralgia.
Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the NIP from November 1, 2023, following advice from the independent medicines experts at the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
You can’t ‘catch’ shingles. However, you can catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles if you’ve not previously had chickenpox or ever received the chickenpox vaccine.
The shingles virus can be transferred to someone who touches the fluid or blisters, or from clothing, towels or sheets that have come into contact with the blisters. When the rash has dried out and formed ‘crusts’, you're no longer infectious.
If you have shingles, cover the blisters and stay away from adults and children who haven’t had chickenpox, or who haven’t been vaccinated for chickenpox or shingles. You should also avoid immunocompromised people, including those undergoing chemotherapy.
According to the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, around 20%–30% of Aussie adults will have shingles in their lifetime. This most often occurs in people aged 50 and over, although it can affect people of any age. Those 85 and over have a 50% chance of developing shingles.
Shingles is on the rise not just in Australia, but all over the world. Experts believe there may be numerous causes. Firstly, people are living longer and as we age, the risk of shingles may increase due to lowered immunity.