Just a quick question… whats the protocol age wise with a shingles vaccine in France… Would like to get one but not even sure what they call shingles in France… I have had it before and have lost the sight in one eye because of it… really dont want it again… big significant birthday next year (70!) so thought I would enquire… thanks…
My goodness, do you mean permanently? I had no idea it was so dangerous. I really hope you meant while the attack lasted.
Sorry I can’t help but I will be paying attention to those who can. 
Zona | Vaccination Info Service.
I would ask your MT for an ordinance for Shingrix, unless he is in a hospital clinic and can offer the vaccin him/her self.
Shingrix may or may not yet be fully reimbursed by France healthcare but seems to cost ~ €100, so probably well worth it.
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Shingles is zona. The jab costs about €250. 2 jabs 2 months apart. You could maybe get one for free while on holiday in the UK?
The shingles jab reimbursed in France is a living vax and only 50% effective.
Shingrix has been recommended by the French health authorities for over 65’s, but the CPAM has not got round to reimbursing it. Don’t know how long that will take…
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Not allowed yet! I had this discussion with my rheumatologist as I can’t have Zostavax. She double checked for me with the senior beings in this region and although HAS have approved Shingrix they have yet to produce the guidelines and make it available through normal route.
So only option is totally self funded. But she still wouldn’t prescribe it to me to get privately as has no official guidelines that this is the right thing to do (despite loads of my immune suppressed friends in UK having had it!) Maybe that would be possible for people with normal immune systems.
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The replacement for wife’s MT found guidelines on his computer and prescribed it. My MT also prescribed it. Or are you under 65?
That’s fascinating!
So you got the prescriptions, but not reimbursed I guess as you said earlier you paid?
(€250 a dose for 4 doses? )
I am over 65, immune compromised and on drugs that increase risks so normally a priority for these sorts of things at 100% cover. But can think of better uses for €500 so will wait as rheumy said she reckoned it would be soon.
We had the first jabs in Germany, where we got it free, as all German pensioners do, and where it is strongly recommended and regularly administered, then we paid for the second jabs, which were prescribed but not reimbursed.
I simply asked my MT a couple of years ago (post 65yo) for the Shingles vax here. I believe it was fully covered by CPAM and Mutuelle and just 1-dose.
“In 2013, the French High Council for Public Health (HCSP) recommended the administration of the Zostavax vaccine in France to adults from 65 to 74 years inclusive , according to a single-dose schedule for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).”
Correction: second dose given 2-6 mos later
That would have been Zostovax, the vaccine that has been available for years. We are talking about Shingrix, which is the new attenuated vaccine.
That is what this thread is all about🙂
Should this be in the Cheeful News thread, ‘all 80 somethings are immune from shingles’ 
Is there a good reason they stopped at 74? 
the effect/efficiency of the vaccine diminishes with age… so by 80 it might be useless… something along those lines.
Oh, so we still get the shingles then? ;-(
There’s a lot of info on both vaccinations. I am asking my MT about getting Shingrix at my next visit. You can get it after one year of having Zostavax. Its effectiveness lasts 7-10 years.
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If you are in France you still have to pay for it, €200+ a dose and not covered by mutuelles either. Wait a bit until it is available under the seçu.
Thx Jane! Good to know.
According to TheLocal (still looking for the French confirmation) Shingrix is now reimbursed (from 14th Dec) at 65% and is available without prescription to over 65s and people with compromised immune systems.
Have you seen the proper authority to back this up @JaneJones ? You’re usually the one with the finger on the pulse
if you have had shingles as I have had, you won’t mind paying. It is the most severely debilitating painful disease. For me it was in my eyes. Excruciating!!! If you have not then you will take the jab and just pay for it. To be fair, whatever way you look at it, if you have had shingles then you would happily pay for a preventative. Just be glad there is one!