Thanks, AARPLynn,
Yes, some stuff does get by me - this is good to know for several reasons
From your link:
GlaxoSmithKline said the price of its shingles vaccine, called Shingrix, will be $280 for the required two shots. Merck & Co.'s one-shot Zostavax costs $223. Most insurance plans cover it.
Now that there is competition - perhaps the price will come down but since it seems the new one is better (?) the price for this one might stay high or go higher if the demand is there.
I don't think this new vaccine would have ever been developed except for the money which Merck reportedly made off Zostavax especially since Medicare promoted it as well as the CDC.
. . . . and it has a better (?) efficacy rate than Zostavax -
Zostavax reduced the incidence of herpes zoster by 70% in 50–59-year-olds, by 64% in 60–69-year-olds and by 38% in people aged 70 and older in its pivotal trials. Shingrix vaccine provided 97% protection against herpes zoster in patients aged 50 years and over.
The new one (Shingrix) ia also a non-live, recombinant subunit vaccine. This differs from Zostavax which is a live vaccine and where prep and injection route by the pharmacy giving it is imperative. That's the reason my doc would not give me an Rx - he said for these specification, he wanted to make sure it was given correctly so I had it in his office. Zostavax was given subcutaneously, Shingrix is give intramuscular.
This sounds great all the way around -
Thanks for the heads up.