Would you consider the shingles vaccine?

[AARPLynne]

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

[SallyO447886]

Absolutely!  I have had shingles and it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced.  2 shots about a month apart.  Call your pharmacist for price or check your insurance coverage.

[kathylukas]

Yes, and recommended by my physician - have history of skin issues since teens and father had a terrible case of this years ago. BUT I'm in the donut hole and cannot afford another $200 or more bill.

[jo78203842]

Yes I did have them 10 years ago and would do it again!!!

[KathleenG665172]

How much do the shots cost now$ in the past they were so expensive.

[sb4053877]

With Medicare, it was $45 per dose - 2 doses 6 month apart. 

[CarolC459627]

Yes. My sister, my husband, and my 50 year old daughter all got Shingles last year. None were exposed to each other since they all live in different cities or states. 

[jo78203842]

Yes I would. I have personally not had the shingles. I known close friends who have. It's brutal. Around the waist and on t he face and head. No blissters, it's under the skin. 

[julieam810536]

ABSOLUTELY YES.   Immunizations are extremely important for adults as well as children and adolesents. As an RN I have encountered patients and friends with shingles.  NO THANKS.  

[mjdrage]

No. Absolutely not. I don't get flu shots and I've NEVER had the flu. I've had adult whooping cough courtesy of the live vaccine given to a coworkers child. I'm 66 and I stay away from doctors. I know someone who goes to the doctor for every little thing, including getting every shot recommended and he is constantly ill. Do your homework and make an informed decision.

[jumpersix6]

I had shingles a few years back and the three most painful things I have had in my life are having my first child, passing a kidney stone, and shingles. If you do get shingles you will really really be sorry you didn't take the shot. Hope you will change your mind.

[MSAv8tor]

Hey AARP!

What's going on with this Shingles shot? At my March annual physical, my physician recommended the Shingrix shot but said he was out and he wrote me a prescription. I went to my CVS and got the 1st shot. On schedule in May, a few months later I went back and CVS said "Sorry, no shots" we can put you on a list - so I have been calling weekly and waiting.

I have an appointment with my Physician coming up this week - so I sent an email, asking if they had any Shingrix in stock. I received an email back, from a nurse saying - "Yes, we have them, but not for Medicare plan patients!" only commercial insurance payments.

I have the BCBS premium Supplement program, which I pay a significant amount for each month - Why are Medicare patients being discriminated against?

What is AARP doing about this healthcare discrimination?

Mark

[cn8777]

Absolutely Not! I believe it's brought on by Extreme Anxiety- Nerves.

My son had chicken pox when he was young and when his wife was a having a baby and after birth he became extremely agitated with all the pressure he was under.  He broke out with what looked like hives, big welts on his back, but then extreme itchiness.

He finally went to the doctor and the doctor told him he has shingles. What in the hell was that?  Never heard of it.  The medicine he took did not help with the Burning, he had to use Aloe Vera, the plant, which I peeled and put it on his back.  My son told me it's contagious.  That's another lie, never got it and I put it on his back for 5 days.

so, if your under Extreme Anxiety- go outside- put on a some soothing music, take deep breaths and pretend your in the most beautiful place ever, like at a beach, at a park, or a forest.  Make it a place where you enjoy going to!

[sb4053877]

If you had chicken pox as a child - that virus is still in your body lying dormant.  If, like me, you are exposed to someone who has chicken pox; then, stressed or not, your virus very well could re-activate as shingles.

I was visiting family & friends in the UK and happened to meet someone who had chicken pox.  Was NOT stressed about anything.  Got shingles and could not get to my doc until after I returned to the US. 

Too late for any drugs to treat the shingles so now I have PHN (post herpetic neuralgia PERMANENTLY).

The new vaccine for shingles was highly recommended and is not made using a live virus like the older vaccine.  This new one is in two doses and has a protection rate of 90%.

The shingles follows a nerve path and some people get it where it follows the nerve up to their eyes.  Mine followed my sciatic nerve.

Because so many parents are not getting their children vaccinated these days, chicken pox, measles and whooping cough are making a giant comeback.

Be very afraid of those people who have not been vaccinated - not the new shingles shot.

Medicare covers most of the cost.

If you get shingles - all the soothing music in the world is not going to do any good - it's a virus you are dealing with.

[s909754s]

Also, my friend who never had chicken pox and got that shot some years ago does believe that is why she got the shingles.

So if you never have had chicken pox definitely do not get this new vaccine as you will be more likely to get shingles.

[s909754s]

Not necessarily.  My friend n1ever had chicken pox and got shingles.  It was a very mild case. But I will not get the 2nd injection since I was in to much pain after the first one.  I thought I had injured my shoulder again and had torn my rotator cuff.  After a few days I realized it must have been from that stupid injection. 

[GailL1]

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@sb4053877 wrote:

Because so many parents are not getting their children vaccinated these days, chicken pox, measles and whooping cough are making a giant comeback.

Be very afraid of those people who have not been vaccinated - not the new shingles shot.

Medicare covers most of the cost.

Even getting some of your regular type immunizations updated is recommended by the CDC - especially if you are going to be around very young children or new grandchildren.  It also helps not having to worry if you step on a rusty nail cause you have had a tetanus update.

CDC - Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2019

[sd27373958]

I recently had the 2 recommended shots. No problem, other than a sore arm. I know several people who have had shingles, including my mother and a cousin, who was 53 years old at the time. Not something I would want to be afflicted with.

[sharoncollins64]

I had the single shingles shot at age 60. That was all that was recommended then. Now I am 72 and told I need two shots. I had no bad effects from the single shot, so I would welcome the new ones, but my Medicare part D plan only pays half of the cost. Walmart pharmacy quoted $600 for the two shots. I guess I will have to take my chances not to have shingles again, like I did when I was 57.

[sharoncollins64]

I had the single shingles shot at age 60. That was all that was recommended then. Now I am 72 and told I need two shots. I had no bad effects from the single shot, so I would welcome ththe

[BobCloseyermouth]

Oh heck yeah, you do NOT want shingles. 

[AARPMonicaS]

Thank you for your comment.  I am not sure anyone would!

[s909754s]

HELL NO!!!

I had the first one a year ago and I was in severe pain for days.  I thought I had torn my rotator cuff again until I realized I had gotten the shot.

I am due for the 2nd one and told Doc that I will not get it.

The nurse said her mom had the same reaction.  She still got the shingles but a mild case since she had received the first shot.

I will take my chances over getting the 2nd shot.

[ss11943859]

No ! I had a mild case of shingles years ago, no replapse since. Dr. didn't suggest a shot. I don't get flu shots, had a pneumonia shot once. Don't know if I need more than one shot for pnemonia, Dr. hasn't said anything about anything ! I was diagnosed with osteoporosis years ago, & the dr. prescribed Fosamax. I declined. Since then I heard of class action suits against the makers of this drug-women who'd been taking Fosamax for a couple years or more were experiencing bone loss. What's With That ?? Later on, the dr. asked if I had filled that earlier prescription. When I told her about the lawsuit, she seemed surprised, said that drug was still on the market & still being prescribed. Again, I ask-What's With That !!??

Excuse me for having very little faith in the medical profession.

[GailL1]

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@ss11943859 wrote:

No ! I had a mild case of shingles years ago, no replapse since. Dr. didn't suggest a shot. I don't get flu shots, had a pneumonia shot once. Don't know if I need more than one shot for pnemonia, Dr. hasn't said anything about anything ! I was diagnosed with osteoporosis years ago, & the dr. prescribed Fosamax. I declined. Since then I heard of class action suits against the makers of this drug-women who'd been taking Fosamax for a couple years or more were experiencing bone loss. What's With That ?? Later on, the dr. asked if I had filled that earlier prescription. When I told her about the lawsuit, she seemed surprised, said that drug was still on the market & still being prescribed. Again, I ask-What's With That !!??

Excuse me for having very little faith in the medical profession.

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You can get shingles again  - it can flare up at anytime - the new vaccination is better than the previous one - longer lasting and the new one is not a "live vaccination".  Medicare Part D covers it as your plan describes.  The new one (Shingrix) is a two-part vaccine; taken several weeks apart..  Many pharmacies have it on backorder right now - usually they work from a waiting list when it is available.

Older Adults Need Two Pneumococcal Vaccines of different makeup - these will protect you against 36 different strains of the pneumococcal bacteria.

CDC recommends 2 pneumococcal vaccines for all adults 65 years or older.

• You should receive a dose of PCV13 first, followed by a dose of PPSV23, at least 1 year later.
• If you already received any doses of PPSV23, get the dose of PCV13 at least 1 year after the most recent PPSV23 dose.
• If you already received a dose of PCV13 at a younger age, CDC does not recommend another dose.

PCV13 protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and PPSV23 protects against 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. Both vaccines provide protection against illnesses like meningitis and bacteremia. PCV13 also provides protection against pneumonia.

CDC - Pneumococcal Vaccines for Adults

Medicare PART B pays for BOTH -

Medicare Part B covers 2 different pneumococcal shots. Part B covers the first shot at any time and a different, second shot if it’s given at least one year after the first shot.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing for pneumococcal shots if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts assignment

Medicare.gov - Pneumococcal Vaccinations

Can't help you on the Fosamax - I took another variety for a year or so but it made my TMJ worse and my hips would just ache - common side effects - so I stopped taking any bone density meds.

Here is the last I read on the lawsuit -

Reuters 06/28/2018 - U.S. Supreme Court to hear Merck appeal over Fosamax suits

[gc7391]

I would definitely take the vaccine. I had shingles several years ago and, believe me, I'd do almost anything to avoid another case. They are very painful and take months to completely recover from them.  Having them was miserable.

[MaVolta]

@ss11943859 

@GailL1 

Thank you for the info on the Fosamax. My doctor had me on this drug for at least 4 years, previously had Actonel for 3 years with a year off in between. Over the years, my bone density hasn't changed much with either med. There was a slight improvement the first year or two and then it dropped a bit and stayed about the same.

Last year I was having stomach and esophagus issues. It turned out to be the Fosamax which was stopped and Dr put me on generic Prilosec to aid digestive system.  Everything is much better now and not taking any osteoporosis med at this time. 

[se4855]

Not yet.  People on both sides of my family have had Shingles.  There was no vaccine available.  But my doctor is still reluctant to say it is safe.  So I will just wait for a while longer.

[se4855]

Agree

[s264473m]

Not getting the second one, had a bad reaction to the first shot, whole body felt like it was burning for about 15 minutes, light flashes and dimmed vision,  profuse sweating,nausea