Can You Get Shingles And Pneumonia Vaccine Together

Does The Vaccine Work

In December 2017 Public Health England published an evaluation of the first three years of the shingles vaccination programme in England . This showed that the shingles vaccine was 62% effective against shingles and 70 to 88% effective against post-herpetic neuralgia in this period. Public Health England estimates that there were 17000 fewer GP consultations for shingles than expected in this 3-year period.

In the early 2000s researchers carried out a very large study of Zostavax, the shingles vaccine used in the UK, involving over 38,000 adults aged 60 or older. The results showed that:

• In adults aged between 60 and 70, the vaccine reduced the number of cases of shingles by 51.3%
• In adults aged over 70, the vaccine reduced the number of cases of shingles by 38%
• The vaccine reduced the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia by over 66% in all age groups
• For those who did get shingles, the vaccine reduced the severity of the disease.

Read the abstract of this study, published in 2005 by Oxman et al.

Adults aged 80 or over are not offered the shingles vaccine. This is because the effectiveness of the vaccine declines with age in older age groups.

What Are The Side Effects

Because the vaccine helps your body create a strong defense against shingles, you are likely to have temporary side effects from getting the shots. You may experience side effects after either dose or after both doses, which may include:

• Redness, soreness, swelling at the site of the vaccination
• Tiredness, muscle pain, headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, nausea

About 1 out of 6 people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms usually went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days.3

Are Chickenpox And Shingles Serious Illnesses

The symptoms may be more severe in newborns, persons with weakened immune systems, and adults. Serious problems can occur and may include pneumonia , brain infection , and kidney problems. Many people are not aware that before a vaccine was available, approximately 10,600 persons were hospitalized, and 100 to 150 died, as a result of chickenpox in the U.S. every year.

Recommended Reading: How Many Americans Have Been Vaccinated

Can You Get Chickenpox If You’ve Been Vaccinated

Yes. About 15% 20% of people who have received one dose of varicella vaccine do still get chickenpox if they are exposed, but their disease is usually mild. Vaccinated persons who get chickenpox generally have fewer than 50 spots or bumps, which may resemble bug bites more than typical, fluid-filled chickenpox blisters. In 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend routine two-dose varicella vaccination for children. In one study, children who received two doses of varicella vaccine were three times less likely to get chickenpox than individuals who have had only one dose.

Shingrix Dosage And Schedule

Shingrix should be administered to adults age 50 years and older as a two-dose series , 2 to 6 months apart .

If more than 6 months have elapsed since the first dose of Shingrix, you should administer the second dose as soon as possible. However, you do not need to restart the vaccine series.

If the second dose is given less than 4 weeks after the first dose, the second dose should be considered invalid. A valid second dose should be administered 2 months after the invalid dose .

Also Check: Is There A Vaccine For Zika Virus

Mixing And Matching Covid

This is different from getting multiple vaccines in the same sitting. If you are in a location and can get your third shot or COVID-19 booster, and the type you received for your first two shots in the series is not available, its reasonable to receive the other type as a booster, Dr. Sobhanie says.

This only applies to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, however.

Groups At Risk Of Ipd

People who are immunocompromised and unable to mount an adequate immune response to pneumococcal capsular antigens have the highest risk of IPD.2,4,34 This includes people with asplenia.

Greater risk and/or severity of IPD

• excessive alcohol consumption
• certain non-immunocompromising chronic medical conditions2,34,42,43

Indigenous populations in developed countries, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, have a disproportionately high burden of IPD

Young children and elderly people have the highest incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease .37,38,45 Disease burden is also disproportionately high in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.1,2

Read Also: Does Humana Insurance Cover Shingles Vaccine

Other Vaccines You Dont Want To Forget

TDaP

Diptheria isnt a huge problem in the US, but its good to be up-to-date on tetanus, and pertussis, or whooping cough, does become epidemic occasionally.

Hepatitis B

Everyone is vulnerable to hepatitis B, which is an infectious disease, but this vaccine especially important for people who may need to take biologics for chronic disease treatment. When people go on biologics, they are very reactive to Hepatitis B, says. Everyone who is going to go on a biologic should have a hepatitis study done before they start, he says. Anyone who tests positive for the Hep B virus has to be treated before they start the biologic medication.

New Data Suggest That Co

In 2015, roughly one-third of the elderly population in the U.S. was vaccinated against herpes zoster , and less than 65% against pneumococcal infection.1 A new study published in Vaccine reports that offering the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and the adjuvant recombinant herpes zoster vaccine at the same visit is both safe and equally immunogenic as giving them at separate visits, which may encourage patients to get both of these vaccines.2

Take Note

• Vaccination rates in the U.S. are low among adults, with about one-third of the elderly receiving the shingles vaccine.
• A new study found that safety and immunogenicity are maintained when the shingles and pneumonia vaccines are given at the same time.
• Co-administration of these 2 vaccines may improve coverage rates in older adults.

Among patients over 50 years old, pneumococcal pneumonia, which can lead to invasive pneumococcal disease, and herpes zoster, which may lead to long-lasting postherpetic neuralgia, are of particular concern.3,4 Therefore, minimizing barriers and changing clinical practice to maximize vaccination rates in this adult population are a priority.

Primary and secondary objectives are identified

The primary objectives of the study were to:

The secondary objective was to evaluate the safety and reactogenicity of RZV and PPSV23 when co-administered versus when administered sequentially.

Safety and immunogenicity remain intact

What about adverse effects?

Also Check: Can You Be Contagious After A Vaccination

Can I Get The Shingles Vaccine And The Pneumonia Vaccine At The Same Time

shotcanvaccinespneumoniashinglessame timeVaccine

So doses of mumps, varicella, zoster, LAIV, and rubella, when adminis- tered less than 30 days prior to yellow fever vaccine, can be counted. Live vaccines administered by the oral route are not believed to interfere with each other if not given simultaneously.

can you give Shingrix with other vaccines? A: Yes, Shingrix is an inactive vaccine so you can administer it with other inactive or live vaccines. If you administer Shingrix and another vaccine to someone on the same day, give them at different anatomical sites .

Herein, can pneumonia and flu vaccine be given together?

You Can Get Influenza and Either Pneumococcal Vaccine at the Same Time. You can get either pneumococcal vaccine when you get the influenza vaccine. Having the flu increases your risk of getting pneumococcal disease.

Can shingles vaccine and pneumonia vaccine be given together UK?

The Summary of Product Characteristics for Zostavax, the shingles vaccine used in the UK, states that the vaccine should not be given at the same time as the Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine . This is because a clinical trial by the manufacturer had suggested this might make Zostavax less effective.

Simultaneous Pneumococcal And Shingles Vaccines Safe

Giving patients both the herpes zoster and pneumococcal vaccines simultaneously does not seem to undermine the zoster vaccines protective effect, despite FDA concerns to the contrary, researchers from Kaiser Permanente wrote in the journal Vaccine.

The package insert of the zoster vaccine says the two should be given in separate doctor visits. Doing them both at the same time is much more convenient and cheaper for the patient. If it is also safe, there seems no point in doing them separately, the authors wrote.

The FDA had asked the manufacturer of the zoster vaccine to mention in the package insert that the concurrent use of both vaccines detrimentally affects the zoster vaccines ability to generate an immune response.

Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, MPH, said:

Our study found no evidence that receiving the zoster vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine on the same day would compromise the immune response necessary to protect against herpes zoster, also known as shingles.

This study, which started on January 1, 2007 and ended on June 30, 2010, involved two groups of patients aged 60+. 7,187 patients received both vaccines simultaneously while 7,179 received them non-concurrently .

They identified 56 cases of herpes zoster in the simultaneous group and 58 in the other no statistically significant difference in shingles incidence.

Dr. Tseng adds:

If a patient is eligible for both vaccines, the CDC still recommends they both be administered at the same time, despite FDA concerns.

Read Also: Does The Vaccine Affect Pregnancy

Risks Of A Vaccine Reaction

• Redness, soreness, swelling, or itching at the site of the injection and headache can happen after live shingles vaccine.

Rarely, live shingles vaccine can cause rash or shingles.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What Side Effects Should I Look Out For

Side effects vary from vaccine to vaccine, according to Privor-Dumm.

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services website Vaccine.org, common issues include:

• Soreness at the injection site
• A low-grade fever
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue

In very rare cases, you may be allergic to the ingredients in a vaccine or have another severe reaction. If you feel sick in any way after receiving a shot, call your doctor, Privor-Dumm says.

Read Also: How Is Hpv Vaccine Given

Is There A Way I Can Keep From Being Infected With Chickenpox

Yes, make sure all your vaccines are up to date, especially if you are planning a pregnancy. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those you love. If you are not immune, you should be vaccinated. You will receive two doses of varicella vaccine one month apart. You should avoid becoming pregnant for at least one month after the last vaccination. Varicella vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. If you are pregnant, have your healthcare provider give you the varicella vaccine after your baby is delivered.

Study Challenges Concerns On Effectiveness Of Administering Pneumococcal Shingles Vaccines Together

Date:

Kaiser Permanente

Summary:

Administering both the pneumococcal and the herpes zoster vaccines to patients during the same visit is beneficial and does not appear to compromise the protective effect of the zoster vaccine, according to a new study.

Administering both the pneumococcal and the herpes zoster vaccines to patients during the same visit is beneficial and does not appear to compromise the protective effect of the zoster vaccine, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the journal Vaccine.

The study’s findings challenge information in the zoster vaccine manufacturer’s package insert. This new information is important to patients who find it more convenient and less costly to receive both vaccines from their health care providers during the same visit.

A revision to the zoster vaccine package insert, approved in 2009, stated that the zoster vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine should not be given together because such concurrent use reduced the ability of the zoster vaccine to generate an immune response.

“Our study found no evidence that receiving the zoster vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine on the same day would compromise the immune response necessary to protect against herpes zoster, also known as shingles,” noted study lead author Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, MPH, a research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research & Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif.

Story Source:

Don’t Miss: What Does Vaccine Efficacy Mean

Pneumonia Vaccine And Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine

You cant give the PCV13 pneumonia shot with a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, as they may interfere with your bodys immunologic response to PCV13, the CDC warns.

There are two meningitis vaccines available in the United States: meningococcal conjugate and MenACWY. Theres also a vaccine against meningitis B. All 11- and 12-year-olds should get a MenACWY vaccine, with a booster dose at age 16.

Why The Recommendations Changed

Both the CDC and AAP say safety data and a need to catch up children and teens on missed vaccinations played a role.

“The AAP supports giving other childhood and adolescent immunizations at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines, particularly for children and teens who are behind on their immunizations, the AAPs statement reads. Between the substantial data collected on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and the extensive experience with non-COVID-19 vaccines which shows the immune response and side effects are generally similar when vaccines are given together as when they are administered alone, the benefits of co-administration and timely catch up on vaccinations outweigh any theoretical risk.

Woodworth also said that updated co-administration recommendations may facilitate catch up vaccination of adolescents. She cited data that showed the administration of many other vaccines has declined during the pandemic.

Specifically, vaccine orders from providers were down 11.7 million doses as of May 2, 2021 when compared with 2019. The gap was largest in vaccines usually given to teens, including:

• The Tdap vaccine
• HPV vaccine
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Read Also: When Was The Flu Vaccine Invented

Interchangeability Of 10vpcv And 13vpcv

There are no specific data on the interchangeability of 10vPCV and 13vPCV. It is preferable to complete a primary course of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with the same formulation. However, if a child started their vaccination course with 10vPCV , it is acceptable to complete the course with 13vPCV

The only absolute contraindications to pneumococcal vaccines are:

• anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any pneumococcal vaccine
• anaphylaxis after any component of a pneumococcal vaccine

Who Should Not Have The Shingles Vaccine

You should not have the shingles vaccine if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction in the past to a previous dose of the shingles vaccine, or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine, or to a previous dose of varicella vaccine.

If you have a weakened immune system a GP or practice nurse will assess which vaccine is suitable for you. Discuss any health concerns with the GP or practice nurse before you have the vaccine.

Zostavax is not suitable for people who have a weakened immune system due to a condition, treatment or medicine.

Recommended Reading: Which Vaccine Is For Whooping Cough

Shingles And Flu Shot

Goodwater_Betty

Last year I developed a case of shingles shortly after getting my flu shot. I read on this forum where somebody felt that their shingles might have been related to getting the flu shot. I have not gotten a flu shot this fall and dont know if there is a connection between the two or not. Im 74 and hate to skip getting the shot but I dont want to risk a shingles relapse either. I also wondered if I should get the new shingles shot, which I heard was more effective than the one I got several years ago. Can anyone else weigh in on either of these issues?

7 likes, 109 replies

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being Vaccinated

The benefits of vaccination generally far outweigh any risks, Privor-Dumm says. Although vaccines do have some side effects, most are mild and temporary.

The bigger con is getting disease, which may lead to further health complications, she adds. For instance, people who are hospitalized with influenza have a greater likelihood of heart attack or stroke following their illness, and the economic consequences of a serious illness can be catastrophic for some. Thats why its best to prevent disease in the first place.

Read Also: Do You Need To Be Vaccinated

What Mild Side Effects May Occur

As with any vaccine, you may experience some mild side effects after receiving the pneumococcal vaccine.

Mild side effects vary depending on which vaccine you receive. Theyll usually go away within a few days.

Possible side effects of the PCV13 vaccine include:

• redness, pain, or swelling at the site of the shot
• mild fever

• sleepiness or drowsiness
• disrupted sleep

On very rare occasions, serious side effects can occur, such as high fever, convulsions, or a skin rash. Contact your childs pediatrician right away if you notice any of these symptoms.

Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for the following groups:

• all infants and children younger than 2 years
• adults over the age of 65
• people who have long-term or chronic health conditions, such as diabetes mellitus or significant cardiovascular disease
• individuals with a weakened immune system
• adults who smoke tobacco products

Be sure to speak to your doctor about which pneumococcal vaccine is right for you or your child.

Some groups of people shouldnt receive a pneumococcal vaccination.

The following groups shouldnt get the PCV13 vaccine:

• individuals who are currently feeling ill
• people who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any of the following:
• a previous dose of PCV13
• an earlier pneumococcal vaccine called PCV7
• a vaccine containing the diphtheria toxoid
• any components of the PCV13 vaccine

These groups of people shouldnt receive the PPSV23 vaccine: