POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: bear60 on December 11, 2010, 03:57:32 pm
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Well, I recently learned that everyone over 60 is supposed to have a Zostavax vaccine. This supposedly will protect one against the dreaded shingles.
I just had the vaccine this afternoon at my local pharmacy. 30 dollar copay.
It occurs to me that there are a number of "older" individuals on here that might benefit from this information.
I'll keep you all posted if I have any side effects.
http://www.zostavax.com/index.html#navigation
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Bear, did you get this vaccine under a doctor's supervision or just a pharmacist's?
Zostavax is a live attenuated vaccine that is currently not yet recommended for those with AIDS or weakened immune systems from HIV infection. Administration of the vaccine may result in disseminated disease in individuals who are immunosuppressed. It is particularly not recommended for those who have had a CD4 nadir of less than 200.
ACTG 5247 (AIDS Clinical Trial Group) is currently studying the safety and tolerability of Zostavax in HIV-infected adults. Until the completion of this study, I would not think it wise to promote this vaccine in HIV-positives.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00851786
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Well, I recently learned that everyone over 60 is supposed to have a Zostavax vaccine. This supposedly will protect one against the dreaded shingles.
I just had the vaccine this afternoon at my local pharmacy. 30 dollar copay.
It occurs to me that there are a number of "older" individuals on here that might benefit from this information.
I'll keep you all posted if I have any side effects.
http://www.zostavax.com/index.html#navigation
Absolutely not! My IDS said NO to this vaccine as I had inquired about it because so many of my HIV- friends have had shingles.
Billy
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Recommended immunizations:
http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/Recommended_Immunizations_FS_en.pdf
Ray
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It was my doctor who prescribed the Zostavax.
I am immune to Hep B and have had Hep c vaccine.
I have also had the pneumonia vaccine...Pneumovax
Didnt see anything about HIV individuals. Done deal, no turning back now.
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I am sure Edfu is correct.
Anyone with a tcell count below200 should NOT have this Zostavax vaccine.
This is a study being done:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00851786
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Hey everybody. Ok, its been about a week and I am happy to report no side effects from the Zostavax shot. My doctor felt it a good addition to my immunizations, since I am at a point now where I can tolerate such stuff.
As a non-progressor, I have never been on HIV medications. Since 1989, when I was tested, my CD4 has remained at or above 500. I am lucky that I have been able to tolerate all the flu vaccines as well as Tetnus, Pneumovax, Hep C vaccine, and Zostavax.
I realize this Zostavax is not for everyone, but condeming it is a little silly. A friend of mine who is 80 years old recently had an outbreak of shingles. She is not HIV positive.
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Bear,
Glad to hear that all is going well, And if the shot prevents you getting shingles somewhere down the road, that's a great thing.
Good luck---Ray
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Bear,
I'm pleased things are going well for you. I did not condemn Zostavax; shingles can be a serious problem for many. However, I don't think it is "silly" at all to point out that it's an attenuated live vaccine, and as such it can be an even more serious problem for those with compromised immune systems. If that were not so, the NIH and the manufacturer would not expressly state it is not recommended for the latter, and the NIH would not have established an ACTG expressly to study Zostavax's safety and efficacy amongst the HIV-positive. I can assure you that I am in no way one of the anti-vaccines wack-a-doodles.