New Shingles Vaccine
What You Need To Know
In October 2017,
the FDA approved a new shingles vaccine, called Shingrix.
This January, the CDC officially recommended that adults 50 & over get the new
vaccine to prevent this painful, blistering disease instead of the previous one, Zostav.
How is Shingrix different from Zostavax?
- Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles & a painful complication called
PHN in all age groups. - Zostavax only lowers the odds of getting shingles by 51% & of PHN by 67%.
1. Zostavax is even less effective in people ages 70 & older.
2. The Zostavax vaccine has been around since 2006.
3. It contains a live but weakened version of the virus that causes shingles & chicken pox.
- Shingrix has a dead version of the zoster virus. I
- t also contains an adjuvant, a substance that helps your body fight off the virus better.
- It causes your immune system to produce more antibodies to fight shingles than the
other vaccine produced. - So your body has a stronger immune response to the Shingrix vaccine than to the
Zostavax vaccine, (Michael Hogue, PharmD, a professor of pharmacy at the Samford
University College of Health Sciences).
.
Why is Shingrix recommended for people ages 50 and older?
- You can get Shingrix at age 50, when your chance of having shingles rises.
- Studies have shown that its protection remains strong for at least 4 years, but
researchers hope it will last much longer because the immune response is stronger.
- The CDC recommended that Zostavax stay at 60 & older because they were concerned
the immunity would wane & there would be a number of people who were vaccinated in
their 50s who wouldn't be protected in their 70s. - Kenneth Schmder, MD a professor of Medicine & chief in the division of geriatrics at Duke
University Medical Center & William Schaffner, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at
Vanderbilt Univerity say Shrigrix is clearly superior.
Who should get the Shingrix vaccine?
- The CDC says healthy adults ages 50 &o ver should get the Shingrix vaccine.
- You should get it even if you’re not sure if you ever had chickenpox, the CDC says.
How many doses of the vaccine do you need?
- You need two doses, given 2 - 6 months apart.
- That second dose is really important to make sure you get long-term protection.
What are the side effects?
- Shingrix causes more side effects than Zostavax.
- The main side effects reported in studies were soreness, redness & swelling where you
get the shot. - Some people also got headaches or felt tired or achy after the shot.
- About 1 out of 10 people said the side effects were severe enough to disrupt their daily life.
- Yet most felt better within 3 to 5 days.
- While you may experience pain for a few days after getting Shingrix, the pain will be less
severe than having shingles & the complications from the disease, the CDC says.
Should you get Shingrix if you've already had the Zostavax shot?
- Yes,the CDC recommends that you get the Shingrix vaccine if you've already had Zostavax, because it's more effective than the older vaccine & the protection lasts longer.
- Wait at least 2 months after you have Zostavax to get Shingrix.
Should you get Shingrix if you've already had shingles?
- Yes,Shingles can come back after you've had it.
- There's a somewhat increased risk that you could get a second episode, so go ahead &
get the vaccine. - Just wait until your rash & other symptoms have cleared .
- The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices hasn't confirmed whether the
vaccine is safe for people who have a weakened immune system because of a disease or medicine they take. - One worry is that taking drugs that weaken the immune system might make the shingles
vaccine less effective. - It's also possible that by stimulating the immune system, Shingrix could worsen certain
diseases, like leukemia
Is Shingrix available now?
- It's out, but in small quantities.
- The demand has been extremely high.
- That means it may not be available right away in every part of the country.
Will health insurance cover the cost?
- Shingrix costs $280 for both shots.
- Medicare Part D,the prescription drug plan for people ages 65 and older, will cover the cost.
- However, you may have to get the shot at your pharmacy instead of your doctor's office.
- What about private health insurance?
1. Insurance companies usually wait to cover a vaccine until the CDC formally recommends
it, which happened in January.
2. Then the government gives them 12 months to bring about full coverage.
3. The best advice is to check with your insurance carrier.
4. If your insurance doesn't yet cover Shingrix, consider getting Zostavax until your coverage
for the new vaccine kicks in.
5. Many doctors are encouraging their patients to get the vaccine, because shingles is extremely painful & it can be a debilitating disease.
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Symptoms of Shingles & More Information
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