So, shingles vaccine.
If I wait until I'm 70, I can get a free one on the NHS. But I'm only in my 50s, so that's quite a while to wait.
What are the risks of my getting shingles before I'm 70? Is it worth paying to have one privately sooner than that?
Ah, I stand corrected: looks like I can get a free shingles vaccine when I turn 65, they changed the rules last month.
Weirdly, if you're already over 65 and under 70, then you still can't get one until you're 70.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/shingles-vaccination/
@statsguy
NHS shingles vax policy seems entirely accountant driven. Everywhere else sensible is 50+.
Seen the price of a private? Incredible.
Worth it?
Well, I had cranial shingles in march & the nerve damage is still fucking me over in October. I couldn't sleep lying down for 3 weeks or for more than a couple of hours at a time. No painkillers would touch it.
Shingles looks like a bit of an annoyance but it's not. It's horrible. If it infects your eye(s) you are in BIG trouble.
@botvolution that sounds awful. following my conversation with @statsguy yesterday, I decided to look into how it works here in DE. Free for over 60s, or for over 50s with pre existing condition. 130€ to everyone else. which is, quite frankly, astonishing to me. I thought Germany was always more expensive for medicines
@botvolution @els76uk Yes, and the gradient is not all that steep with age after 60 (I haven't found good data for the under 60s), so as someone nearer the end of my 50s than the beginning, I'm not massively less likely to get it than a 70-year-old. I think I shall bite the bullet and shell out for a private vaccine.
@botvolution @els76uk The justification for limiting it to the >65s seems utterly bogus to me. They say that they are not taking account of the costs of people having to take time off work sick in the cost-effectiveness analysis, because most people in the target age group are retired anyway.
Massive circular argument!
@statsguy @botvolution maybe check if it’s worth travelling to France (or further) and paying privately there. overall, it might not work out cheaper, but at least you get a mini break at the same time!
I love that I can jump on a train and be in Poland in a couple of hours if I wanted to. Not done it yet, but it's always in the back of my mind
@els76uk @botvolution Funnily enough I did consider doing that for my autumn covid booster, as technically I'm not allowed one in the UK.
But I managed to blag one anyway, so plans for a trip to France have been stood down for now.
@botvolution @els76uk Sounds like the eligibility criteria may not be being completely strictly enforced.
Presumably the clinicians giving the jabs understand better than most just how utterly bonkers it is to ban the covid boosters for <65s and are rebelling in their own little way.
@els76uk @botvolution But I don't think that's going to be the plan for the shingles vaccine, tempting as an extra trip to France is. I've discovered I should be able to get it at the pharmacy in my village, and I am very keen to support them as it would be a real nuisance if they closed own. Also it's a 2-dose schedule, so it would need 2 trips to France.
@statsguy @botvolution I'm booked in at my Dr tomorrow for flu and covid jabs so will ask what their policy is while I'm there
@statsguy what did you decide in the end? Pay or not?
Because of your post, I spoke to my dr here, who was happy to put a note on the system so that my husband can get the shingles jab next time he’s there. Thx for the heads up.
I’m too young and don’t need it yet.
@els76uk I decided to pay for one. Not cheap, but if it stops me getting shingles it will be well worth it.
@els76uk Turned out that the pharmacy in my village didn't do it after all, but I managed to find another one that did only about 10 minutes drive away, so on the whole a lot easier than going to France (albeit with fewer possibilities for excellent food)