Shingles Vaccination (Herpes Zoster Vaccination)

Three friends had shingles in the last 18 months. All three warned me to get the vaccination. The CDC recommends it for those age 60 and older http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shi ... c-faqs.htm .

One of the three showed me scars from above her brow up into her scalp. I am thinking I would not be able to tolerate mask headgear if I had active shingles in the same area. Not to forget, that typically the outbreak is around the trunk of the body, can be very painful, and therefore might interfere with my therapy for positional sleep apnea.

My insurance doesn't cover the vaccine. I can get it at the local health department for $179. Have you had the vaccine?

HI
Yes I had the vaccine some time ago. My husband tried to get it at his last physical and had to be put on a waiting list to get it. The serum (or whatever it is) happens to be in short supply. He has been waiting several months now.

You might want to check to see if it is available or if you need to be on a wait list.

At the time I had it, they had me pay as most insurance policies did not cover it. Mine eventually paid. The price was approximately what you stated.

I took it on 1/14/09.....no reaction.....nothing.

I really want to get this vaccine, but at 44, I'm getting the run-around.

My 72 year old father just died from health conditions that arose after a case of shingles 8 years ago. Maybe no one else makes the connection in his health history, but I remember where this whole nightmare started, and I don't plan to go through it myself. He ended up blind, deaf, and at the mercy of caregivers for the last 5 years of his life.

I sure wish I knew where I could go and get this vaccine and just pony up $200 and be done with it.
Babs

Babette wrote:I really want to get this vaccine, but at 44, I'm getting the run-around.

My 72 year old father just died from health conditions that arose after a case of shingles 8 years ago. Maybe no one else makes the connection in his health history, but I remember where this whole nightmare started, and I don't plan to go through it myself. He ended up blind, deaf, and at the mercy of caregivers for the last 5 years of his life.

I sure wish I knew where I could go and get this vaccine and just pony up $200 and be done with it.
Babs

According to one of the friends, our local health department will not administer it to anyone under the age of 60 ..... unless they have a letter from their doctor stating they have health conditions that make shingles very dangerous. Maybe your doc would help you if your local health department has the same policy?

Babs.....have your doctor write you a prescription for the vaccine.....hand it to your pharmacist....and he'll get it for you.

Be careful......to keep the vaccine frozen....until it's time for your doctor's nurse to pop you in the tail with it.

Gerald

Thanks for the advice! I'll keep this in mind.

Cheers,
B.

yes sir; me and wife. There was a waiting list - Mike

I tried to get it, due to health issues, it was recommended. My insurance (Tricare Prime) will not cover it until I'm 60.....I know friends in the same age group as me (mid 50's) that have had shingles....saving the pennies now did not realize it was that expensive....<sigh>

I have had a case of shingles and it is strange. It affect different people in different ways.
Mine started as a small sore on my forehead and began to spread across my face till I looked like
I had been seated in a chair and beat with a rubber hose. My doctor figured it out and put me on Zorofax
and in a week or so it went in remission and I was able to return to work. I never had a lot of pain, but
they say the body version can be very painful. My doctor said it is possible but probaley would not reoccur.
He never said any thing about a vaccine for it. I think you are contagious for the chicken Pox when you
are broke out. It kills nerves and months later you will feel like there is a worm crawling under your skin.
When the nerves start to grow back.

Lots of luck

Allen

My wife just got the shot last week. No reaction or problems so far. Clinic won't administer to anyone under 60. Insurance covered the cost. She was on a waiting list for 9 months. I just turned 60, and am on the waiting list. My mother had a horrible bout of shingles two years ago and is still tormented by the post-herpetic neuralgia. The doc said it is effective about 60% of the time, and for the remainder who do get shingles, it is a mild case.

I went to a convenience clinic located in a Walgreens pharmacy. It took quite a bit of haggling to get the insurance company to buy the serum from the pharmacy who gave it to the clinic who administered it to me. The problem seems to be that inoculations are covered under the Dr. / clinic part of insurance, not the pharmacy. The pharmacy owned the serum because of the high price and very low storage temperature requirements. My cell phone battery barely made it through the experience, but I got the inoculation and am happy. My grandfather and two of my parents friends have had shingles and horror stories to tell.

I was able to locate the clinic as a source of the inoculation by Google search.


Good Luck,
TerryB

ablong wrote: ........ My doctor said it is possible but probaley would not reoccur.
He never said any thing about a vaccine for it. .....
Allen

Allen,

According to the CDC website:

Can the shingles vaccine be given to people who have already had shingles?
Yes. People who have had shingles can receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. This is true no matter when they first got shingles.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shi ... c-faqs.htm

Yup, got the Shingles vaccine about a year ago . . . and paid for it ($160 or so). I thought , and still think, it was worth it, having known several people who endured the terrible pain of shingles. Don't need that. Have enough other stuff to deal with . . .

Joy

I am 47 and have had the herpes zoster outbreak on my left forehead area around 5 times. It always starts with a sore, tingling pimple that grows quickly into a very painful oozing outbreak. It usually has occurred at moments of extreme stress when my body's resistance is down. Now that I know how it feels in the very first stages, I call my doctor and get a prescription for Acylovir. I take it as soon as I can and it really does nip it in the bud. It's good to know there is a vaccine out there and I will definitely ask my doctor about it.