Janet Street-Porter's desperate plea after suffering 'debilitating' health scare

04 October 2023 , 09:33

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Janet Street-Porter's desperate plea after suffering 'debilitating' health scare

Janet Street-Porter urged Good Morning Britain viewers to check if they're eligible for the shingles vaccine after suffering from the "debilitating" illness.

The Loose Women presenter revealed she was sent home from the ITV show after an outbreak of the virus in 2012, but Janet explained she first suffered with the illness while in her 40s and the presenter admitted she didn't realise she had the virus at first. The journalist recalled noticing a rash on her body, which she believed was an eczema flare-up.

Janet was subsequently diagnosed with shingles and recalled two other women at her place of work also coming down with the virus at the same time, adding: "I was very stressed at the time and that tells you what you need to know about the workplace." Stress can be a factor which can trigger the virus and you cannot give shingles to other people, although other people can catch chickenpox from you if they haven't had it before.

Janet urged viewers to get the vaccine (twitter/@GMB)

Issuing a heartfelt plea to viewers, Janet said: "I would say to people at home if you're eligible in either of those categories, you're over 65 after September 1st or you're aged between 70 and 79, which I am, for goodness sake go and get the shingles vaccine because you certainly do not want to run the risk of getting it.

"And there's a single website [getshinglesready.co.uk] so go on the shingles website and see if you are eligible because one of the debilitating side effects is the nerve pain. The scabs will go, you won't be like a tree trunk that snaps in half, but the scabs could be down your face, it would be a ghastly experience and could affect your eyes."

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Eligibility for the vaccine has now widened, but Janet revealed she's campaigning to expand the shingles vaccine access for vulnerable people over 50. Dr Amir Khan joined Good Morning Britain to share his expert view on Janet's campaign.

He said: "It's a really debilitating illness and the vaccine reduces your risk of getting shingles and if you do get shingles it can reduce to severity and length of the symptoms as well."

Charlotte McIntyre