Shingles Vaccine Recommended to All Over 60
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ethan Hays
The sweeping nature of this recommendation is due to widespread exposure to the chicken pox virus, which causes shingles. Said Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School in Nashville, TN:
"If we look at everyone who's over age 60, for all intents and purposes, 100 percent -- even if you don't remember having had it -- literally everyone age 60 and over has been exposed in their past lives to the chickenpox virus".Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, causes skin eruptions in girdle-like pattern that roughly follows a major nerve pathway, often on the trunk of the body, although it can also spread to the face and even the eyes, causing blindness. The initial redness and irritation often develops into blisters that are so painful as to be debilitating. "It can cause months and sometimes years of pain," said Dr. Robert Schwartz, professor and chairman of family medicine and community health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The vaccine, Zostavax, was approved by the FDA in May 2006. Since the CDC has issued this recommendation, federal health officials will be in a position to influence whether or not it will be covered by insurance companies.
"The vaccine is a major public health advance" for the 60-plus age group, said Schaffner. "If you reach age 85," he says, "almost half of people will have experienced shingles at some point in their lives. It's really quite extraordinary. There are 1 million cases of shingles that occur in the U.S. each year."
"Generally, anyone 60 and over should be vaccinated, even if they've had shingles in the past," said Curtis Allen, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control.
More information about the vaccine from the CDC is available here.
38 Comments:
At Tue Oct 31, 07:44:00 AM 2006,
Anonymous said…
Where can you get the vaccine? I live in Panama City, FL and no doctors seem to have it on hand.
At Tue Oct 31, 01:15:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
If you have had chicken-pox as a child is the vacination now possible?
At Wed Nov 01, 01:20:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
i asked my doctor for the vaccine a couple of weeks ago. he won't give it out cause it's "too new" - citing continuing problems they are having with side effects from lime vaccine
At Thu Nov 02, 11:39:00 AM 2006,
Ethan Hays said…
Hi all,
I wrote this post to get the word out about shingles vaccine, but I don't have any visibility into availability or whether a specific person is a good candidate for the vaccination. As always, defer to your doctor on these questions.
More information about the vaccine from Dr. Paul Auerbach is available in his blog post. Hope that helps!
At Mon Nov 06, 12:54:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
40 year old female just getting over a horrible case of shingles on my face! (In left eye, left nostril, left side of mouth etc.) I don't ever want them again. Would the vaccine help me?
At Mon Nov 06, 03:13:00 PM 2006,
Ethan Hays said…
My understanding is that the vaccine is intended to protect against oubreaks both in people who have had shingles, as well as those who haven't. However, you should always check with your doctor about your specific case.
At Tue Nov 07, 11:39:00 AM 2006,
Anonymous said…
I had shingles at the age of 32, I still get the Stabbing pains on my right trunk side but having no insurance at the time, I was only treated for the "break-out", I would like to know whom to see in Jackson or Johnson county areas in Missouri, for the vaccination along with the neuralgia?
At Thu Nov 09, 12:39:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
I live in the Sacramento, California area, my doctor will not provide the vaccine for shingles where may I go to receive the vaccine in my area
At Mon Nov 13, 03:54:00 AM 2006,
Anonymous said…
My sister and I both came down with the Shingles this year I am 44 she is 43 i feel that this vaccine should be available to persons younger than 60. I still am dealing with Post Herpetic Neuralgia It's been 9 months since my outbreak. mine is on the right side lower torso area, she has just come
down with it . Hers is on her face and neck into her upper torso . our Great grandmother had it also . I dont wish this pain on my worst enemy. I am really curious as to how it would benefit us since we have already had it .
At Tue Nov 14, 07:01:00 AM 2006,
rferber said…
I live in Deerfield Beach, Florida - where can I get the vaccine?
At Sat Nov 18, 07:43:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
I live near Vancouver, British Columbia. I am suffering terribly with my first attack with Shingles. Can I get the vaccine here in Canada or must I go over the border? (In Bellingham or Seattle) My doctor said that no vaccine was available.
At Sat Nov 18, 09:00:00 PM 2006,
Anonymous said…
As I understand, we should give vaccine to patients older than 60, but benefit declines above 80. Does it mean that we should vaccinate patiens older than 60 but yonger than 80? This is an important question for me since I am a geriatrician.
Thank you.
At Fri May 25, 05:00:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I have for a number of years had the pleasure of enduring labial herpes attacks on my lower (facial) lip. I have now developed a painful condition on the outer face of my left fore-arm, which appears to be a series of small blisters, and which, if it was on my lip, I would unquestionably class as herpes. Is this possible?
At Tue Jun 26, 04:41:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I am confused. IS Zostavax (shingles vaccine) covered by Medicare Part D or not? My doctor's office says that it is not and that the cost is $250 per person or $500 for my wife and me. Anybody know?
At Wed Jun 27, 11:15:00 AM 2007,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
With regard to Zostavax coverage by Medicare, Healthline cannot give advice on this but here is a link to the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) website where you can get more specific information.
CMS
At Mon Jul 09, 01:45:00 PM 2007,
rsbangs said…
I had shingles several years ago. Asked my doctor for the new shingles vaccine and was told it was not effective for someone who has had shingles. Is this true?
At Mon Jul 09, 10:12:00 PM 2007,
North Dakotan said…
If Zostavax is a Boosted version of the varicella vaccine that is given to children, then I have an observation about this vaccine. I am hearing about more and more children who are getting shingles. The two whom I know personally both had the vaccine less than 9 years ago and one of them is a healthy boy who has now come down with shingles 2 times. What is going on here? Are they sure this is really going to protect elderly people from shingles? Kids are getting shingles, for goodness sakes!
At Tue Jul 10, 12:02:00 PM 2007,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
rsbangs:
In response to your comment, according to the Zostavax manufacturer (Merck & Co.) they have not studied the use of this vaccine in people who have had a history of zoster (shingles).
North Dakotan:
Anyone who is exposed to the varicella virus, be it through having chickenpox, being around people who have active chickenpox, or receiving the varicella virus vaccine, are at risk of getting shingles at some point.
At Sat Jul 28, 10:44:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Please, is Zostavaax available in O Fallon, MO.?
I was diagnosed with this in May of 2006 and am trying to find where it is available. I do have Medicare part B and I am now 84 yrs 0f age.
Ulva Irene Lancaster
1341 Stone Creek Valley Circle
O fallon, Mo. 63366
uitwl@centurytel.net
At Mon Jul 30, 10:27:00 AM 2007,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
Hi Ulva Irene,
unfortunately we have no way of determining whether or not the vaccine is available in your area. You will need to check with your healthcare provider as that is the only way you can get the vaccine.
Thanks for reading the blog.
At Fri Aug 17, 06:32:00 AM 2007,
mauge said…
My father had a very bad case of shingles at 78, he never got rid of the pain, lost sensitivity on leg and he's not able to walk anymore due to the out brake of shingles. He lives in Bolivia (La Paz) and they don't have the vaccine, please let me know how to get one, and send him
At Fri Sep 07, 11:28:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
When will the vaccine for Shingles be paid by Insurance? My DR reccommended it but I found it would cost me $199.00 and not covered by Insurance
At Sat Sep 15, 09:11:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
If Medicare doesn't cover the vaccine Will Medco cover all or part of it?
At Thu Oct 18, 07:11:00 PM 2007,
Drew said…
Any experience with Lymes disease (6 years ago, treated successfully with anitbiotic) and shingles? I have a bulging rash on my neck and ankles, and am afraid it's shingles. Can I take a vacination, quickly!!
DLL
At Mon Oct 22, 10:14:00 AM 2007,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
Hi Drew,
thanks for reading the post. The vaccination is indicated for prevention and not for treatment so you will need to consult with your healthcare provider on this.
Thanks.
At Sat Mar 01, 01:33:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I want to know where shingles shots" are available in Mesa Az
At Thu Mar 06, 06:00:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I'm 64 years old and have never had shingles. What are the side effects of the shingles shot? Does Lyme disease have any connection to shingles?
At Fri Mar 07, 10:05:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I had a doctor tell me to take the vaccine and have since changed doctors and the new doctor's staff say the vaccine is useless since I have already had the shingles..It was my understanding that it might help the severity of the shingles if they ever came back...Can you help.???
MAK - Katy, TX
At Fri Mar 07, 10:06:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I had a doctor tell me to take the vaccine and have since changed doctors and the new doctor's staff say the vaccine is useless since I have already had the shingles..It was my understanding that it might help the severity of the shingles if they ever came back...Can you help.???
MAK - Katy, TX
At Mon Mar 10, 04:23:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
If grandparents have the shingles vaccine, will that expose grand children and others at risk for chickenpox or shingles? Our grand daughter has had the chickenpox vaccine.
At Mon Apr 07, 06:40:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
Medicare is covering the vaccine as a prescription at the pharmacy (not in the doctor's office). Iwas told there would be a charge of up to $75.00. This was what I was told when I bchefsilcalled my insurance provider.I did get a prescription and will probably use it at the clinic in Kroger later this month.
At Mon Apr 14, 07:36:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
we are 78 and 82..we got the shingles vaccine when tricare for life sent out by sargents magazine said they would pay for them...we got them and they aree not paying for them..whats going on the clinic or tricare for life we do not have $458 for 2.. we would not have gotten them if they were not covered,,frank ruper
At Mon Apr 14, 10:48:00 AM 2008,
JC Jones MA RN said…
Dear Mr. Ruper: Sorry you are having trouble with TriStar but we have no interaction with them. Please contact them directly & let us know how it goes. JC Jones
At Mon Apr 28, 11:21:00 AM 2008,
Shirley Hannah said…
I have been receiving steroids in my cocccyx area of my spine. I would like to get a Shingles vaccine injection but have heard you can't get an innoculation while taking a series of steroids injections. Is this true?
At Tue Apr 29, 09:46:00 AM 2008,
Ijeoma Eleazu, PharmD said…
Hi Shirley Hannah,
in studies the manufacturer excluded all people who were immunosuppressed or on steroids from receiving the vaccine. The package insert also states that if your immune system is suppressed you are not to get the vaccine. You will need to check with your primary care provider about your particular situation. Thanks.
At Thu May 01, 06:09:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I am 70 yrs old,and I'm also insilin deabetic. I have Medicare part A and B. I have had shingles twice already. My doctor wrote a prescription for Zostavar(which means a prharmaist has to give the shot) Medicare will not cover it because it is a prescription ($200.00)nor will my secondary health insurance.If a doctor gives the shot would medicare cover it? If so why don't the doctores have the vaccine?HELP /Carol
At Sun May 11, 05:23:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
First of all, Medicare Part D does cover the vaccine. If you have AARP Medicare RX Preferred. Their Formulary for 2008 does pay for the Vaccine. I must get a prescription from the doctor and go to a pharmacy that can get it or has it on hand, since this vaccine must be kept frozen at a certain temperature and once it's picked up at the pharmacy, it must thaw for 30 minutes before use. From the time of pick-up you must have coodinated with your doctor to go in right from the pharmacy to have the shot. Also with the above plan I belong to, the pharmacy you purchase it from must be participating in the network associated with your insurance. Of course, with my insurance I will have to pay a co-pay due to the fact that this vaccine is a Level 2
At Sat May 31, 02:55:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
This is Saturday, May 31, 2008; I received the vaccination on May 29th; I now have a huge red and painful patch at the injection site. Is this a normal reaction and how long can I expect it to last. I am 62. Thank you very much for any information you can extend.
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