Would you consider the shingles vaccine?

[AARPLynne]

The FDA recently approved a [new] shingles vaccine. Would you consider being vaccinated for shingles?

[MaVolta]

@GailL1 - Yes, my PPO insurance paid 100% for shingles vaccine, and it is expensive. Now it happens that my MA HMO plan has it listed as a tier 3 on their formulary, but it isn't covered by regular Medicare alone. That seems odd since shingles is typically seen in people over 60. However, my husband had a shingles outbreak at 50-ish, and he's always been a healthy guy and an avid runner.

[dlyoung50]

Is the vaccine needed if you have had shingles. I strongly recommend everyone over 50 have the vaccine. I had the rash on my right side at my beltline from my bellybutton to the center of my back. The rash went away but after six months, i am still having nerve pain. I don't want to have it again if that is possible.

[sb4053877]

I had shingles down my sciatic nerve in 2006. Because I was out of the country, I didn't get to my doctor until it was too late to use drugs. Consequently, I have PHN (Post Herpetic Neuralgia) forever.  Symptoms like what you describe down my leg and foot.

I didn't get the old vaccine because it was made with a live virus.

This new one is made with a man-made virus.

My doctor & sis-in-law is a nurse and they both said to get it bc the protection % is over 90%.

I will be truly a basket case if I ever get shingles again; and, you can get it multiple times. 

[AARPLynne]

Hello @GailL1, you make a good point and after reading your post I edited the OP to specify that this is a new vaccine. Indeed, this is the second shingles vaccine on the market. The article, FDA Approves New Vaccine Against Painful Shingles, talks about this being a "...a new, more effective vaccine..." 

[GailL1]

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.

[ASTRAEA]

No, not any more than I would get the flu vaccine; rather take my chances.

[mjdrage]

Nice to know I'm not alone!

[peggyr12880]

We baby boomers all had "shots" as a child. Immunizations are very important to babies and adults. Why would you NOT get the vaccine? Preventive medicine is very important in these times of contatagious viruses. I want to do all I can to protect myself from everything possible.

[Dcmburnell124]

Misdinosed at hospital had pain for 14 years. Will shot help

[Epster]

Well, I'm a few years shy of 60, so it isn't something that's particularly recommended for me yet, but I'm with @ASTRAEA on this one. I think as long as my health and lifestyle* holds, I'll not get the vaccine (or flu shot). Later, say, when I'm 85 and perhaps beginning to become frail and therefore live in a condo or apt, well, that might be another thing altogether.

 * No contact with children, very little contact with the public, super healthy with muscular, athletic build, so minimal risk of either getting or transmitting flu or shingles.

[MaVolta]

Yes, and in fact I received the vaccine last year. I had chickenpox as a child. My mother had shingles and it was a horrible experience. I asked my doctor about the vaccine, and she agreed that I should have it, and to do it before I changed over to Medicare because Medicare would not pay for it.