Originally Posted by
JohnDThompson
Actually, vaccines don't stop you from "getting" any virus. They simply help your immune system to recognize and overcome the disease before it goes viral. Sometimes a person who received the vaccine still has the disease reach the point where the symptoms are evident, i.e. it goes "viral". That doesn't mean the vaccine wasn't effective. In many instances with the flu vaccine a person gets the flu, but thinks it's only a cold that they overcame quickly. Because it doesn't reach the more serious level with all the symptoms they don't recognize they actually had a very mild case of the flu.
As for shingles, yes I had a case when I was in college and went through my first set of final exams. Eating poorly, not sleeping the correct amount and some beer drinking probably contributed. During semester break, went home and saw our family doctor who prescribed some ointment and put me on steriods (I think). It took about a month but it all healed up but I had scars until I reached my 40s.
I didn't know about the new vaccine. I'll have to ask my doc about it.