We are getting a lot of calls about herpes medication and the COVID vaccine. (And see lower down for the Covid vaccine and a herpes simplex outbreak.)
Even if I am having herpes symptoms, can I have the vaccine?
Short answer: Yes. You can take herpes medication and the COVID vaccine will be OK.
Longer answer… A herpes simplex outbreak (a ‘cold sore’) is minor problem for the body to deal with. It can certainly manage to control the outbreak and deal with the new ‘flu vaccine’ that is the Covid vaccine. And taking medication to control herpes outbreaks will not affect it. These antivirals do not work on any flu virus at all. (If they did, be sure they would be selling them for treating flu!)
It is generally said that being unwell is meant to be a trigger factor for an outbreak. This is where the names cold sores or fever blisters come from – people noticed they pop out when a person is unwell. Most interestingly we know of people who get a lot of outbreaks but no colds or flu, while people around them are getting these ‘normal’ illnesses.
In fact, since having Covid, or flu, could trigger an outbreak, you could say that the vaccine will help with herpes too!
Hello I’m really interested in more information and meetings.
Hi Lauren, you can subscribe to keep up to date with the journal: https://herpes.org.uk/join/
Or just check back on the ‘news’ page from time to time.
Best wishes,
Cameron Poole | Deputy Director
Herpes Viruses Association & Shingles Support Society
41 North Rd, London N7 9DP
Office 020 7607 9661
Helpline 0845 123 2305
https://herpes.org.uk