I and my Dr. are still evaluating the shot for me. Because I cannot ever remember having Chicken pox it could cause problems. It is a live vaccine and at my age I really don't want to come down with Chicken pox.

if you are on any immune suppressant drugs...like those people with RA....check with your Dr...this is a live vaccine, and could be dangerous to you.

Marie, my mother was in your same position. Although her memories of things weren't always consistent with her two sisters, she was adamant she's never had chicken pox and we had no way to verify that.

About three years ago, an endocrinologist asked her when I took her to an appointment one day if she'd like the shot. When we asked him if she should have it if she'd never had chicken pox, he answered he had no idea.

Mom's doctor did give her the shot a little over a year ago (at 86 yrs). No reaction, she didn't even complain about an achy arm.

But again, we don't know that she may not have had chicken pox very young, or had a mild case. All three of us kids had chicken pox while in her care and she didn't catch it from us when a young mother.

No for me right now, I may be an at risk patient. Can't verify prior chicken pox anyhow. Think anyone can get it, prior C-P just increases the odds. Doctor or Pharmacy if you decide. They have been pushing it for a long time, like it was the plague?

I'm going to get one as soon as I turn 60. I guess I can't get it in my state until then. About 6 months from now.

I distinctly remember having the chicken pox and have a pox scar right in the middle of my forehead.

I got one this year...no problems at all and it was covered. Two of my kids in their 20's got shingles last summer...mild cases but a nuisance. They had CP when they were little. They live in different states so did not get it from each other.

A coworker in her late 60's then got it several years ago and she was in bed for weeks and said it was very painful...no one needs that in their 60's/70's.

Hi Kathy! I got mine a couple of years ago and had no side effects at all, and the cost was covered.. Was happy with that!

I think my youngest needs it, he is only 26, but had cp 4 times, very severe cases. He was written up in a medical journal.

I had chicken pox as a kid, and got the shingles vaccine about 3 years ago.

I don't want to discourage anyone from getting the vaccine, but please understand that it isn't perfect. It is effective for maybe 50% of the people who get it. And it supposedly reduces the severity of a shingles attack if you have the shot.

BUT, I still got a fairly bad shingles attack last March, after I had the vaccine.

And shingles is SO NASTY that you are living under a rock if you don't get the vaccine if you can. Do everything you can to avoid this horrid disease. Yes, the vaccine isn't perfect, but get it anyway. Hedge your bets. I'm glad it got the shot, because my outbreak might have been even worse.

I know for sure I had the CP. Dad scared the bejeekers out of me telling me I was going to turn into a chicken!

Friend had the shot when it first came out and payed $250. Mine, two years ago, was covered and I had no reactions. Really glad this shot is available, at any cost.

Husband had it and had no reactions at all not even a sore arm. I am one the possible high risk people because I am on some immune suppressing drugs and some of my conditions. I will have to have a discussion with all of my doctors and see what the consensus is. I definitely had chicken pox as a child and my mother had a bad case of shingles. I really don't want to go through that.

Well, I had the shot a couple of years ago, but still got shingles last spring, and I'm still on prescription meds and an allergy OTC. I had it on the right side of my head,and yes, in my eye. For the latter, I had to use prescription eye drops. I could not see out of the eye on that side. Thankfully, that got OK, but I still have itching and "touchy" feelings on my head. I guess I feel that the shot helped in that I didn't get anything more serious, and I can live with this condition now.

Littlebug, I would ask a pharmacist about the age limit--two pharmacists just to be sure. The age limit was dropped from 60 to 50 several years ago. I don't know if certain states have failed to follow this.

DH and I have had the vaccine. I had shingles once before I got the shot -- upper right quadrant of my head. Fortunately, I went to the doctor the morning I discovered what I thought was a brown recluse spider bite near my right eye. He immediately diagnosed shingles and I was given the medicine they give for any type of herpes outbreak. I was also sent to have my eye checked; all OK.

If you EVER even suspect you have shingles, don't wait to be seen. If you can start the medication within 72 hours of the outbreak, it can help a lot.

My episode was very minor, for which I credit the early intervention with medication.

I got shingles a year ago May. I still have pain, numbness, itchiness, puffyness. Not fun. I was down and out for at least a month. Mine was down my throat, in my mouth, out onto my face, up close to my eye, in my ear, on my scalp. It was awful!

I didn't have any side effects from the shot.It's been a couple of years. I'm o73.

My son had shingles a few years ago, brought on by severe work related stress. I've never seen him in pain like that. Seeing what he went through (he was only 31 years old), I've thought about getting the shot. My coverage (even though I work in a drug store, our coverage sucks big time), doesn't cover a dime. Almost $200 for the shot. That's the only thing holding me back.

I was not sure if I had cp or not, Dr. Said they can do a test to tell, because so people have such a mild case they never know.(like one spot in your hair, or some place it is missed). Test was done(blood I think) and then I was given shot.

I am Cdn. The shingles vaccine is not covered by our provincial health plan, nor by my husband's health care plan. Regardless of age. I did ask my doctor about it and she agreed with the people who say that it works 50% of the time. We have both had chicken pox - so far neither my husband nor I have suffered from shingles. Thankfully. Where we live the shot would cost upwards of $200.00 each.

I am allergic to Benadryl (any anti-histamine for that matter). So no worries on that front - except of course the heck that I go through being a major allergy sufferer (who also can't take the shots).

Everyone has different health and financial circumstances, and from the comments above I understand that some medical conditions may prevent it. The pain and suffering of this condition that some endure can't be overstated. If you have no medical coverage and the cost needs to fit into your budget, save up and make it your Christmas present to your significant other or to yourself. I can't imagine that something else would be a more worthwhile gift.

Eccentric, people I know who have suffered from shingles would say that irrespective of cost and irrespective of having only a 50% probability of effectiveness, you should today run (not walk) to the nearest place available and get the injection. Assuming your health condition permits.

I got the injection a few years ago and it was completely uneventful. My father suffered from recurring shingles flareups, and several close friends have had it. It can be excruciatingly painful and debilitating, it's something I hope to never experience.