Skip to main content

Shingles

This isn't a post about our roof.  The shingles there are in fine condition and I am hoping that they will stay that way for some time to come.

It's the other kind of shingles, the sudden wake up of a dormant chicken pox virus.  I am hoping to avoid that bundle of misery.  I had the vaccination.  My neighbor had a bout of shingles last summer. That convinced me to talk to my doctor about the shot.  Shooting pain and body blisters really do strike me as something to avoid if possible.

There was a bill before the Vermont legislature this past winter that would have eliminated philosophical exemptions to vaccination requirements for school entry.  It turned out to be quite controversial and got a group of parents very active in fighting against this change in the law.

I was interested in one parent's argument -- vaccination is not analogous to seat belts but to air bags that can malfunction, go off with too much force and result in injury or death.  Although, we have all heard stories about injuries from seat belts as well.  I have to say, though, I was a bit alarmed by those claiming they were not informed that a vaccine could have side effects.  Clearly, they were just not listening or they live in la-la land.

The legislation did not pass.  In the end, it is kind of a shame that the issue even came up and consumed so much time.  Vermont has a very high immunization record.  The one vaccine that is most often opted against in chicken pox.Oh, well.


Comments

  1. My mother had shingles and it's horrible. I'm with you about the vaccination. I plan to see my doctor about it.
    When I was a principal, this was an ongoing battle -- enforcing the immunization requirement. Several parents were lax, but others downright refused on moral grounds. I firmly asked them to withdraw from the school.
    Peace,
    Muff

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh shoot, did you have to remind me. I seriously need to check into getting that vaccine. I guess I'm in the group that thinks you should be vaccinated if one is available, if not for yourself, for the sake of others you're in contact with. We would not want smallpox or polio to rear their ugly heads again.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have friends who have suffered greatly with shingles, so I got the vaccination as soon as I could. I had chicken pox as a kid. I have read quite a bit about parents with objections to vaccinations, and usually it is fear of autism. But that connection has been debunked. I can not think of a moral platform for rejecting vaccines, only an ignorant one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad you got that vaccination. I got mine in December. I just did not want to deal with those terrible things. My father had them the year before he died. He suffered so badly from them. My mother had a mild case a few years ago, but she had them in her 30's also. That time it was not so mild. I'm all about vaccinations.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I understand vacs can have side effects, but, in general,,they do much more good than harm. I'm all for them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm a vaccine person. Need to check out the shingles thing. As I recall, I did that last year and it wasn't covered by my insurance. I'm going to check it out again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shingles are something I fear because I have watched my grandmother and brother suffer from having them.
    I am glad you brought this up it is a good reminder to all of us.
    Love
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the heads up -- will ask my doctor next annual physical. Btw, does anyone know. How effective is the vac., and what ARE the side effects? Thx!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I had the shingles shot 3 years ago when I retired. I too have had friends who suffered terribly.
    Regarding vaccinations, there has been a terrible outbreak of whooping cough in my neighboring Kansas. I guess students can enter school without up to date shots now. Knowing the political climate in Kansas, vaccinations might soon be outlawed there.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I appreciate readers' comments so much. You don't even always have to agree with me.

Popular posts from this blog

Updates

 On September 29, I had the closing on my condo. Everything that was not going to the buyers was out and packed in the ABF moving truck which had by the been taken over to the storage units. Don thought it would take him until Wednesday to finish packing the truck with the help of his son. It took him until late Thursday with Chris' help and mine. Kevin was supposed to help load as well but he was in a mountain bike accident and wrecked his shoulder the week before. That added driving him to doctor appointments to my to do list and dong some shopping for him plus jobs around the house that might need two functioning upper limbs.  We stayed with Kevin on Friday night after the closing and then had a suite in an extended stay place for the coming week. This was the worst possible time to have to get a room because the prices balloon during leaf peeping season if you can even find a room at all. But it was close to the storage units where we were working and it was dog friendly. We ju

Wedding

 Don and I drove to South Carolina to attend the wedding of my step-grandson, Will. Will Will and Katie The wedding took place on Dataw Island, a beautiful outdoor ceremony followed by a reception in the country club. We stayed in a tiny cottage in the historic center of Beaufort, rented from Vrbo. Since the wedding was at 5 p.m., we had time to explore the area a bit. I really like the low country scenery and historical charm. Sitting quietly in the curtained gazebo I was visited by multiple cardinals. They came to visit the feeder, not me, but I can always pretend! How I will always remember Will!

Rest In Peace

 In a summer that has been so wet, Sunday was a reprieve. The humidity dropped and the sun came out. It was a day that could have been special ordered by the family of a friend's husband. It was the day they had arranged his celebration of life ceremony set on the shore of Lake Champlain. I was not looking forward to the gathering, even couched as a celebration. This is a family fraught with relationship tensions. It turned out to be a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony. A Catholic priest gave a brief but meaningful homily and two Air Force members played "Taps" and presented the American flag to my friend. I am not a Christian, but I do know about Christ Consciousness. That priest's word's filled me with such a sense of peace and love. I hope it did the same for the family members and neighbors who attended.