Omicron anecdata?

[mommyoffive]

[Mrs Tiggywinkle Again]

Was informed today that Covid boosters are now subject to the deductible on our insurance, so basically the whole thing is coming out of my pocket(flu shots are similar). I work for a hospital.  It appears that the mandates for insurances to cover Covid vaccines/counseling ended in May for those over 21.

i expect very few people(relatively) will get a Covid booster this fall.

[Faith-manor]

1 hour ago, Mrs Tiggywinkle Again said:

Was informed today that Covid boosters are now subject to the deductible on our insurance, so basically the whole thing is coming out of my pocket(flu shots are similar). I work for a hospital.  It appears that the mandates for insurances to cover Covid vaccines/counseling ended in May for those over 21.

i expect very few people(relatively) will get a Covid booster this fall.

I know many that this will deter because they are very expensive here without insurance coverage. The estimate in our area is $260+ once the stockpile runs out because Moderna and Pfizer are going to charge $130 a dose to do new manufacturing runs. Our insurance is still going to cover in-network at 100%, but only 70% out of net-work. We have an inner work pharmacy within 13 miles that is fairly easy to schedule to vaccine appointments with so we will be able to stay up to date without feeling the pinch or like a lot of my neighbors choosing groceries or vaccine that week but not both.

My brother in law dropped the bombshell on us that it was very good that we chose not to attend his son's wedding this past December. 250 person event in Chicago. As near as they can tell, there was a super spreader at the event, and this particular family, especially the bride's side, are anti-covid vax. He said he got it, for the 2nd time, all of his adult kids, the bride, etc. He said they estimated over 150 people got it. Two of the bride's relatives died despite paxlovid.  Sigh...... We knew it was going to be an epic nightmare of an event, covid being only one of the several reasons for this, and sent a gift and our regrets. Phew. Dodged that bullet.

His one daughter, married two years before her brother, though she and new hubby were vaxed, got it on their honeymoon. She is pretty certain it was on the plane. They opted to go overseas for their moon, and it was way too long of a flight to go without food and drink, so they removed their masks for a meal. She said there was someone doing a lot of coughing a few rows back. They were on a three week honeymoon, and spent most of it fairly miserable once symptoms hit.

We still have super low transmission in our county. This is still the time of year when everyone is outside, camping, boating, fishing, hiking, doing yardwork, church attendance is way down, and most of the weddings in the county have been advertised as outdoor events. So we are naturally socially distanced, not shopping much at all, and don masks for the supermarket and pharmacy. But, once the weather gets bad, school is in session, and church attendance goes up, events move inside  it is probably going to bad again. The vax rate for this county is only 54%. I am prepared to be wearing kn95 inside public places again, religiously. Right now I have just been wearing the more comfortable homemade cloth masks. Thankfully, the one last wedding we have this year is mid-September, small, and still an outside event. I may help Dd put on a Halloween party for my grandsons, but that one will also be outdoors or if it rains, in the garage with the doors and windows open. Her friends and their kids have all vaxed, so we hope that means we can fairly safely hold the party. Dd does not need to be sick again. But the grands desperately want to have a party. I feel like kids these days are just living through one epic nightmare after another. I know it has always been this way throughout history, and yet, I still feel like they have it way worse than my generation ever did!

[mommyoffive]

COVID This Week: August 11, 2023 - People's CDC (substack.com)

 

 

[mommyoffive]

Long Covid Weekly #55: ReCOVer Shortcomings, blood alterations & more (substack.com)

[Mom_to3]

Interesting info on the delay of the latest boosters, including for the uninsured (you need to click on the thread to see the details on additional delays for the uninsured).

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Mom_to3

[mommyoffive]

Long COVID is devastating and far from rare. As infections rise again, why are we still ignoring it? | Salon.com

[kbutton]

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/ohio-suspends-license-of-physician-who-said-covid-19-shot-magnetizes-recipients.html
 

It’s about time. She was one of the top dozen or so disinformation people spreading lies and killing people.

[bookbard]

4 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

Long COVID is devastating and far from rare. As infections rise again, why are we still ignoring it? | Salon.com

Good article but scary. I wish overall there was a re-surgence of preventative medicine. For example, the research showing the dangers of the chicken pox virus is increasing significantly. And yet there's no push to prioritise the shingles vaccine for people under 70 (in Australia). I can't see why you shouldn't get the shingles vaccine in adolescence. It protects against both chicken pox and shingles, is more effective in younger people than older, and you only need to get it once. 

Edited August 15, 2023 by bookbard

[kbutton]

9 hours ago, bookbard said:

Good article but scary. I wish overall there was a re-surgence of preventative medicine. For example, the research showing the dangers of the chicken pox virus is increasing significantly. And yet there's no push to prioritise the shingles vaccine for people under 70 (in Australia). I can't see why you shouldn't get the shingles vaccine in adolescence. It protects against both chicken pox and shingles, is more effective in younger people than older, and you only need to get it once. 

How long does protection last with it? They recommend it at 50 here.

Does the chicken pox vaccine not protect against shingles? Seems like it would be hard to get shingles if you never get chicken pox.

Is shingles linked to complications other than nerve pain/damage (which is increasingly likely with age).

I would be interested in updating my understanding—I’ve had chicken pox and then a bout of shingles in my teens. We have a relative that repeatedly had chicken pox (mild at least the last few times).

[Terabith]

3 minutes ago, kbutton said:

How long does protection last with it? They recommend it at 50 here.

Does the chicken pox vaccine not protect against shingles? Seems like it would be hard to get shingles if you never get chicken pox.

Is shingles linked to complications other than nerve pain/damage (which is increasingly likely with age).

I would be interested in updating my understanding—I’ve had chicken pox and then a bout of shingles in my teens. We have a relative that repeatedly had chicken pox (mild at least the last few times).

Chicken pox vaccine does not protect against shingles because it is a live virus vaccine.  One of the reasons shingles rates are increasing is that one of the things that reduces the rate of shingles is regularly being exposed to the chicken pox virus, I think?  And that since fewer kids are catching chicken pox, parents and grandparents aren’t being exposed to it.  I honestly have wondered if we have traded a relatively mild childhood disease for much greater rates of shingles.  

[kbutton]

7 minutes ago, Terabith said:

Chicken pox vaccine does not protect against shingles because it is a live virus vaccine.

So you don’t develop the illness from the shot, but the virus is present in your body to potentially reactivate later as shingles?

[Terabith]

3 minutes ago, kbutton said:

So you don’t develop the illness from the shot, but the virus is present in your body to potentially reactivate later as shingles?

Exactly 

[kbutton]

This chicken pox craziness is the kind of stuff that makes antivaxers salivate, I am sure.

I knew someone that nearly died from chicken pox because they were an infant when they got it. It has to be hard to find the sweet spot when it’s not clear cut like some of the other vaccines.

[wathe]

An elegant study that suggests a causal link between shingle vaccine and 20% relative risk reduction for dementia.  

Association between shingle vaccine and reduced dementia risk data has been floating around for some time.  This latest study suggests causality --- a very big deal

[wathe]

My covid avoidance streak is finally over.  

I succumbed last week --- thank you world scouts jamboree!  Given all the problems and hardships we faced at the jamboree  (flooding, heat emergency in a giant shadeless field, shocking lack of public health and public safety infrastructure, medical system overwhelm, emergency evacuation for typhoon) covid is just really just icing on the cake.

[Kanin]

49 minutes ago, wathe said:

My covid avoidance streak is finally over.  

I succumbed last week --- thank you world scouts jamboree!  Given all the problems and hardships we faced at the jamboree  (flooding, heat emergency in a giant shadeless field, shocking lack of public health and public safety infrastructure, medical system overwhelm, emergency evacuation for typhoon) covid is just really just icing on the cake.

Aw man. How are you feeling?

[wathe]

28 minutes ago, Kanin said:

Aw man. How are you feeling?

Not great.  Jet-lag plus covid is pretty crummy.  But I'm not seriously ill --- just feeling unwell.

[KSera]

1 hour ago, wathe said:

My covid avoidance streak is finally over.  

I succumbed last week --- thank you world scouts jamboree!  Given all the problems and hardships we faced at the jamboree  (flooding, heat emergency in a giant shadeless field, shocking lack of public health and public safety infrastructure, medical system overwhelm, emergency evacuation for typhoon) covid is just really just icing on the cake.

I’m sorry! I think for any of us who haven’t had the actual disease, it seems inevitable as soon as we end up in a situation with lots of people and no N95. I hope you recover quickly and completely. 

[ktgrok]

I was waiting to get bivalente booster until my mom was for sure coming home to maximize protection but given that a new one is coming in a month I’m waiting for that. From what I’ve read that is the best plan. Sigh. Going to try to get a flu shot this week, that timing should be fine, right? As far as spacing out? Or is that not a thing anymore? 

[wathe]

3 hours ago, ktgrok said:

I was waiting to get bivalente booster until my mom was for sure coming home to maximize protection but given that a new one is coming in a month I’m waiting for that. From what I’ve read that is the best plan. Sigh. Going to try to get a flu shot this week, that timing should be fine, right? As far as spacing out? Or is that not a thing anymore? 

Not a thing anymore.  The rational for spacing covid vax from other vax was to gather data on covid vax side effects and adverse reactions without confounder of other vax at the same time.  

[bookbard]

8 hours ago, kbutton said:

Is shingles linked to complications other than nerve pain/damage (which is increasingly likely with age).

 

Research is showing strong links between shingles and dementia, and shingles and parkinson's disease. I do know my brother had a bad bout of chicken pox in his 30s (he'd already had chicken pox as a kid) and got early onset Parkinson's by 50. 

I got vaccinated for shingles under 50 - my Dr agreed. Part of it was that the risk of shingles increases after covid - I hadn't had covid at that point. I had to pay for it myself, it was $$ that's for sure. But I knew 3 people who got post-covid shingles, and sadly one of them, an elderly man, developed dementia and is now in a dementia unit. 

[bookbard]

6 hours ago, wathe said:

Not great.  Jet-lag plus covid is pretty crummy.  But I'm not seriously ill --- just feeling unwell.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Covid sucks, I wasn't seriously ill either but it was an awful few days. Jet lag on top of it would have been awful. 

[kbutton]

6 hours ago, wathe said:

Not great.  Jet-lag plus covid is pretty crummy.  But I'm not seriously ill --- just feeling unwell.

I hope you feel better soon.

Your experience sounds like one to record for posterity! I wonder if the BSA would like feedback specifically from someone with your background. Some people are heard better than others, and while they know things failed, they might craft better requirements with specific input.

[prairiewindmomma]

50 minutes ago, bookbard said:

 

I got vaccinated for shingles under 50 - my Dr agreed. Part of it was that the risk of shingles increases after covid 

This factored into my personal decision making also. Dh and I also chose to do a Tdap booster rather than Td when it came time to do that this year. 

 

[bookbard]

37 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

This factored into my personal decision making also. Dh and I also chose to do a Tdap booster rather than Td when it came time to do that this year. 

 

What does that mean - is it something extra?

 

[mommyoffive]

9 hours ago, wathe said:

My covid avoidance streak is finally over.  

I succumbed last week --- thank you world scouts jamboree!  Given all the problems and hardships we faced at the jamboree  (flooding, heat emergency in a giant shadeless field, shocking lack of public health and public safety infrastructure, medical system overwhelm, emergency evacuation for typhoon) covid is just really just icing on the cake.

OH man I am sorry.  That stinks on top of everything you went through.   I hope you feel better soon.

[mommyoffive]

9 hours ago, wathe said:

An elegant study that suggests a causal link between shingle vaccine and 20% relative risk reduction for dementia.  

Association between shingle vaccine and reduced dementia risk data has been floating around for some time.  This latest study suggests causality --- a very big deal

Wow, interesting.  One family member of mine had shingles very badly and very soon after (a few years) now has advanced dementia. 

[mommyoffive]

Neighbor Tuesdays: COVID, masks, and boosters (substack.com)

 

2 weeks ago, the US positivity rate was 8.3%.

This week the positivity rate is 10.6% and rising. Positivity rates in 4 regions of the country are more than 10%, with the TX/LA/NM/OK/AR already higher than 15%. Yikes! Also note that the pandemic prevention measures (masking, vaccine update, etc) are the lowest in the South - so there’s a lot of COVID circulating in those regions still. If you live in Region 6, definitely make sure you’re up on your booster and it’s a good time to wear that mask (more on that later).

Remember we want positivity rates to be below 5% for pandemic control. No wonder this surge is hitting people by surprise! An alert would have been great to go out when those regions hit 5%. But, alas. Yes, we have boosters and Paxlovid (we’ll talk about those in a minute) - but those do not protect entirely from long COVID (ugh) or among some high-risk populations.

 

What about masking? I think it’s a good idea to put one back on if you’re in those 4 regions, or if you’re high-risk, or are protecting someone at high-risk - even if you are fully vaccinated. Although vaccines are awesome, they don’t protect entirely from long COVID (ugh) or getting infected and then passing on to others that are more high-risk for complications despite vaccines.

If you’re due for a booster, you can either get the current one that is available or wait for the fall one. They will be slightly different than each other. Keep in mind that BOTH vaccines work against Omicron. Think of Omicron as a big umbrella with several types underneath it - BA.4, BA.5, XBB1.5, EG.5 (Eris) are all part of Omicron. Here’s where you can see the different types of Omicron. Do you notice EG.5 and XBB? They are the dominant ones circulating in the US.

 

Ok, back to the vaccines.

• The current one is bivalent - this means that it provides protection against the TWO (hence, bivalent) variants of the virus that were widely circulating in 2022 and 2023. If you’re fancy and you want to know the names of the variants, they are BA.4/BA.5 (BOTH under the Omicron umbrella) and the original strain of COVID.

• The new booster hopping on the scene hopefully soon (come on, FDA/CDC! We are ready!) will be slightly different. It will be MORE effective against the current variant circulating, XBB1.5 - which is also still an Omicron variant. Scroll up a bit and find XBB1.5 in the list - see where it makes up 10% of all cases?

• Should you wait to get the new one if you’re due for a booster? That’s tricky and depends on how high-risk you are, when your last one was, where you live, etc. I would definitely talk to a trusted healthcare provider to see what they say given your specific situation.

• What about the Eris? Eris, EG.5, is the dominant strain circulating in the US right now. It is still an Omicron variant but has a funky part of it that makes it a poorer match for the current bivalent vaccines. (And, I said a poorer match, not a terrible or useless match.) The fall booster will be a better match for Eris than the current one.

[mommyoffive]

COVID booster now or later? Uptick in COVID cases raises questions : Goats and Soda : NPR

So should you go for a booster now? Wait until fall? Or is a double dose advisable?

"The timing right now is a little bit funny," says Dr. Abraar Karan, a infectious disease fellow at Stanford. The dominant variant in the U.S. is EG.5. Neither the current booster nor the booster coming this fall is an exact match although the fall booster will be "closer to that strain than the old shots," he says.

But if you're worried enough to consider a booster before the fall booster's debut, Karan says: "I would discuss your individual situation with your doctor because it is complicated and for most people, it won't provide much benefit," Karan says.

Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan School of Medicine largely agrees. "Waiting for the new vaccine will provide a better match to the currently circulating variants," she says. ­

Malani adds: "There might be some very specific scenarios under which we might recommend the bivalent vaccine right now instead of waiting for the newer formulation but for the majority of people, better to just wait and be careful about exposures" and use the familiar strategies, like wearing masks in crowded indoor settings.

But the decision "is a bit nuanced," she notes. For example, she says, if you had all the recommended vaccines/boosters but it's been a long time since that last booster – maybe you got it in fall of 2022 — and you have not had COVID and are heading out on a trip, it's not unreasonable to get the current booster and then wait a few months to get the new version in the fall.

By contrast, she advises, if you've had COVID at any point during the pandemic (which enables your body to better fight off future infections) and are up to date on vaccines and boosters and not high risk medically, it's probably fine to just wait for the fall vaccine. Like Karan, she highly recommends a conversation with your health care provider to guide your decision.

Dr. Paul Offit, head of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's advisory committee, adds that people who haven't had the most recent booster and are at high risk of severe disease should talk to their doctor about getting the shot now. That groups includes older adults, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised.

While the current booster isn't well matched to the current variants, "it's holding up well against severe disease," Offit says. He credits a type of immune memory cell, called a cytotoxic T cell, which kills cells infected by the virus, limiting how much virus a person is exposed to. Offit says that "people who have been vaccinated or naturally infected can take heart in the power of immune memory cells, which are highly effective in keeping people out of the hospital and out of the morgue."

Doctors say patients have also asked if getting too many COVID shots might diminish their benefit. There is a concern, says Dr. Adalja, that the prior series of initial vaccinations and boosters directed against the original version of SARS-CoV-2 could cause the new updated boosters to be "swamped by the prior immunity and stifle the ability of the immune system to respond to the new vaccine."

[mommyoffive]

People’s CDC COVID-19 Weather Report: August 15, 2023

Wastewater levels continued to increase nationally for the seventh consecutive week, though regional behavior might be starting to diverge. In the South and Northeast, wastewater levels have dropped slightly, while in the West and especially the Midwest wastewater levels have continued to increase, with a dramatic 2x increase in the Midwest in the past week from 336 to 666 copies/mL of sewage. Note that the slight drop could be due to a lack of updated data, as has happened before–we will know for sure in a few weeks. The spike is very concerning and could foreshadow similar spikes in other regions as has occurred in the past, for example back at the beginning of the pandemic when the wave in New York was subsequently followed by waves in the West and South. This increase in US wastewater levels matches well with what the World Health Organization is saying, too: global COVID cases have spiked 80% in the past month alone.

 

The conclusion is clear: we need accurate COVID case data and a transmission map, now, so that people can use that data to protect each other and themselves. It continues to be a national tragedy that the US CDC refuses to do its basic job to collect data and protect us from this ongoing pandemic. Instead, the new CDC director, Mandy Cohen, is not exemplifying good public health practices in her own behavior by hosting and attending maskless meetings and focusing on other health issues by tweeting about RSV and mental health without mentioning the critical COVID link nor the ongoing COVID surge. Shame on Mandy Cohen –we should remember to keep our expectations of our government officials high, as historically the nations that have obscured their populace’s access to basic health data have been authoritarian ones. We should keep up the fight for democratic access to basic health data and never accept the low, dangerous standards that are currently being forced upon us. 

In the meantime, trackers like the Walgreens public positivity tracker can be used as an additional indicator for where positive cases are happening–and it too suggests a continued increase in cases, with a national positivity rate of 44.7% as of last week, the highest rate since May 2021. Though this tracker may not be useful as a measure for absolute positivity, what it does offer is its ability to track trends in cases–and this rise being mirrored on both this positivity tracker and wastewater is a sure sign of a surge.

[TexasProud]

58 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

 

In the meantime, trackers like the Walgreens public positivity tracker can be used as an additional indicator for where positive cases are happening–and it too suggests a continued increase in cases, with a national positivity rate of 44.7% as of last week, the highest rate since May 2021. Though this tracker may not be useful as a measure for absolute positivity, what it does offer is its ability to track trends in cases–and this rise being mirrored on both this positivity tracker and wastewater is a sure sign of a surge.

 

Ok, this Walgreens tracker is useless.  Yeah the positivity is 44.7 percent, but only a little over 3100 people took the test nationwide...  ( for one day) as opposed to anywhere from 200,000-400,000 people taking tests back in May 2021..  I just don't think the number really means anything with so few people testing. 

[KSera]

3 hours ago, TexasProud said:

Ok, this Walgreens tracker is useless.  Yeah the positivity is 44.7 percent, but only a little over 3100 people took the test nationwide...  ( for one day) as opposed to anywhere from 200,000-400,000 people taking tests back in May 2021..  I just don't think the number really means anything with so few people testing. 

While I agree the low number of tests makes it less useful as an absolute percentage, it still shows the trend is increasing dramatically. At the beginning of June, percent positivity was half what it is now, but with about the same number of weekly tests. That’s what makes percent positivity a useful number. 

[prairiewindmomma]

5 hours ago, bookbard said:

What does that mean - is it something extra?

 

Td = tetanus and diphtheria

Tdap = tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough)

 

 

 

[wathe]

7 hours ago, kbutton said:

I hope you feel better soon.

Your experience sounds like one to record for posterity! I wonder if the BSA would like feedback specifically from someone with your background. Some people are heard better than others, and while they know things failed, they might craft better requirements with specific input.

Each national scouting org will do detailed post-mortems.  BSA had members of all ranks including medical and management on scene.  Their decision to pull their youth out was based on facts and real-time observation.  They know.

ETA: I will of course submit feedback to my own national org.  Plan, Do, Review is part of our program structure.  Review is baked in and expected.

Edited August 16, 2023 by wathe

[Mom_to3]

Two bivalent boosters not sufficient. I had wondered about that (I am also wondering if two monovalent new boosters will be needed for longer protection....) 

 

[KSera]

18 hours ago, ktgrok said:

Going to try to get a flu shot this week, that timing should be fine, right? As far as spacing out? Or is that not a thing anymore? 

This seems too early for a flu shot to me, given that the effectiveness wanes. And you can get flu shot and Covid shot at the same time if you want, fwiw. 

[ktgrok]

2 hours ago, KSera said:

This seems too early for a flu shot to me, given that the effectiveness wanes. And you can get flu shot and Covid shot at the same time if you want, fwiw. 

I know a few people that have had flu already...yikes!

[kbutton]

23 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

I know a few people that have had flu already...yikes!

Are the flu maps available yet? After last year was so early, I hope they get the maps out early. We usually time ours to the map for our area. Other than last year or years where a shortage is rumored, that means late November for us.

[Spryte]

27 minutes ago, kbutton said:

Are the flu maps available yet? After last year was so early, I hope they get the maps out early. We usually time ours to the map for our area. Other than last year or years where a shortage is rumored, that means late November for us.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm
 

You might try this one.

Locally, we are dark green (minimal) but have heard from local docs that they are seeing more flu than normal this summer.

[Longtime Lurker]

On 8/15/2023 at 9:09 AM, kbutton said:

How long does protection last with it? They recommend it at 50 here.

Does the chicken pox vaccine not protect against shingles? Seems like it would be hard to get shingles if you never get chicken pox.

Is shingles linked to complications other than nerve pain/damage (which is increasingly likely with age).

I would be interested in updating my understanding—I’ve had chicken pox and then a bout of shingles in my teens. We have a relative that repeatedly had chicken pox (mild at least the last few times).

I am wondering whether/when to get the shingles vaccine also. I am now over 50, had chicken pox as a child, and had shingles (mild case) in 2016.

On 8/15/2023 at 9:57 AM, wathe said:

An elegant study that suggests a causal link between shingle vaccine and 20% relative risk reduction for dementia.  

Association between shingle vaccine and reduced dementia risk data has been floating around for some time.  This latest study suggests causality --- a very big deal

Does the vaccine reduce dementia risk even if you've had shingles already?

16 hours ago, bookbard said:

Research is showing strong links between shingles and dementia, and shingles and parkinson's disease. I do know my brother had a bad bout of chicken pox in his 30s (he'd already had chicken pox as a kid) and got early onset Parkinson's by 50. 

I got vaccinated for shingles under 50 - my Dr agreed. Part of it was that the risk of shingles increases after covid - I hadn't had covid at that point. I had to pay for it myself, it was $$ that's for sure. But I knew 3 people who got post-covid shingles, and sadly one of them, an elderly man, developed dementia and is now in a dementia unit. 

This is frightening 😞

[kbutton]

10 minutes ago, Longtime Lurker said:

I am wondering whether/when to get the shingles vaccine also. I am now over 50, had chicken pox as a child, and had shingles (mild case) in 2016.

Assuming you are in the US, insurance should cover it at age 50 and up, but I would be curious about timing as well IF the effectiveness happens to wane over time. My bout of shingles was so long ago that I doubt it makes me less vulnerable, so I plan to get my shot right after my 50th birthday.

[kokotg]

On 8/15/2023 at 9:16 AM, Terabith said:

Chicken pox vaccine does not protect against shingles because it is a live virus vaccine.  One of the reasons shingles rates are increasing is that one of the things that reduces the rate of shingles is regularly being exposed to the chicken pox virus, I think?  And that since fewer kids are catching chicken pox, parents and grandparents aren’t being exposed to it.  I honestly have wondered if we have traded a relatively mild childhood disease for much greater rates of shingles.  

In the UK they don't vaccinate for chicken pox, which I gather is fairly controversial, and, as far as I can tell avoiding an increased risk of shingles for the elderly is the main reason. But I got interested in this a couple of years ago and looked up numbers and this is what I posted (elsewhere) back then: 

Quote

it doesn't appear that the UK approach is working terribly well--looks like we have about 100 shingles deaths/year in the US, compared to 50 in the UK--which means we're doing better, given the population difference. And we have about 20 chicken pox deaths/year, same as the UK (we had 100 pre-vaccine)

I would guess giving the shingles vaccine earlier than 70 in the UK would probably eliminate most of those deaths? At any rate, if my self from a couple of years ago is to be trusted, we're saving about 80 kids a year in the US by vaccinating for chicken pox. 

Also, I just found this about shingles and dementia risk--perhaps reassuring? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/large-study-suggests-shingles-does-not-increase-the-risk-of-dementia

[kokotg]

oh, also, the chicken pox vaccine doesn't eliminate the risk of shingles because it's a live vaccine, but it does appear to greatly reduce it from what we know so far (the first round of kids to have gotten varicella vaccines aren't old enough to be getting shingles in big numbers yet, but the vaccine does decrease the risk of childhood shingles from everything I've read): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/two-for-one-chickenpox-vaccine-lowers-shingles-risk-in-children/

[bookbard]

5 hours ago, kokotg said:

Also, I just found this about shingles and dementia risk--perhaps reassuring? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/large-study-suggests-shingles-does-not-increase-the-risk-of-dementia

I have seen such a wide variety of studies out there - a British one found a small increase, a Danish one found a decrease in dementia after shingles (acknowledged errors may be involved there), a Taiwanese one found a 5 fold increase, if the rash was on your face. I wonder if it is quite nuanced. However, getting the Shingles vaccine seems to be a no-brainer to me - if you can afford the $$.

[kbutton]

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808358?fbclid=IwAR01I5TaanzVj6PgEiLUL5FrzNXCMPKqOThfhsKHXNOUduODUsw74fxdzbo_aem_AQFZoEOZBsCp07Ou_ByOFoWmUT85LWVJrOP6JmrVMv5vv4pAQUGPzPpSqcPVS9F4E38
 

I can’t figure out how to insert a quote on my phone, but there are some interesting facts in here about physicians spreading Covid lies.

[Longtime Lurker]

10 hours ago, kbutton said:

Assuming you are in the US, insurance should cover it at age 50 and up, but I would be curious about timing as well IF the effectiveness happens to wane over time. My bout of shingles was so long ago that I doubt it makes me less vulnerable, so I plan to get my shot right after my 50th birthday.

I am in the US so I will ask my doctor about it when I have my physical this fall. I am wondering if I have any immunity from my 2016 case and, if so, would it be better to wait a few years.

[bookbard]

1 hour ago, Longtime Lurker said:

I am in the US so I will ask my doctor about it when I have my physical this fall. I am wondering if I have any immunity from my 2016 case and, if so, would it be better to wait a few years.

My friend got shingles after covid last year. It was advised she get the vaccine a few months afterwards, which she did. I don't think you get 'immune' to Shingles so much as it's always waiting there to flare up again. 

[wathe]

8 hours ago, bookbard said:

I have seen such a wide variety of studies out there - a British one found a small increase, a Danish one found a decrease in dementia after shingles (acknowledged errors may be involved there), a Taiwanese one found a 5 fold increase, if the rash was on your face. I wonder if it is quite nuanced. However, getting the Shingles vaccine seems to be a no-brainer to me - if you can afford the $$.

Yes.  And I think it's important to note that shingles vaccine preventing dementia, and shingles causing dementia are different things.  They are different research questions.  There may be more going on with the vaccine than simply suppressing clinical shingles cases, though that seems the most obvious.

Edited August 17, 2023 by wathe

[kbutton]

https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/08/16/really-alarming-santa-cruz-county-nursing-homes-hit-hard-by-recent-covid-spike