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Posted 10/25/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Charles "Snuffy" Myers expounds on the critical importance of the flu (annually) and the pneumococcal (every 5 years) shots at http://askdrmyers.wordpress.com/ which, I think, most of us subscribe to in any case.

BUT, and this is a new one on me, he also stresses the importance of the shingles vaccine shot indicating NOT to have one exposes the patient to "unnecessary pain and suffering and, perhaps, death". Wow confused

Can anyone comment on the shingles vaccine shot, your perception of its' importance to you, where to get it, etc.?

Thanks,

Mitch

 

Post Edited (Mitch128) : 10/25/2010 6:03:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/25/2010 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Here in northern Illinois, Walgreens and other drug store chains have been advertising shingles vaccine shots available in their stores. I've heard that it may not entirely prevent shingles, but will likely reduce the severity of an outbreak. Adults who have had chickenpox in their youth may get shingles in their older years. Sounds like something to discuss with the family physician.

Incidentally, the CDC website regarding the shingles vaccine includes the following cautions:

Some people should not get the shingles vaccine:

  • People who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin.
  • People who have a severe allergy to any component of the vaccine.
  • People with a weakened immune system as a result of leukemia, lymphoma, or any other blood or bone cancer.
  • People with HIV/AIDS who have T-cell counts below 200.
  • People being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, including high-dose steroids.
  • Women who are or might be pregnant

Post Edited (clocknut) : 10/25/2010 10:17:41 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/25/2010 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link---I will start off with the flu vaccine this week.

He recommended flu, shingles and pneumonia vaccines highly.

I wish he would have addressed how long one should wait between getting the different vaccines, if one chooses to get two or all three that he recommends. Or can you get two or all three in one visit?

Does anyone know how long to wait between additional vaccines?

Dan
Posted 10/25/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
<< Does anyone know how long to wait between additional vaccines?>>

In 2007 I got the flu/pneumonia shots at the same time in the same arm - mild reaction only. No reaction to this year's flu shot which, for the first time, here in Greenville, South Carolina, was administered by a registered pharmacist at CVS .

BTW, haven't seen ad $$ spent by Walgreen's re: availability of the shingles vaccine shot. Will investigate.

Be Well, Mitch

Posted 10/25/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
My doc says everyone over 60 should get the shingles vaccine. A friend of mine had shingles about 10 yrs ago and had a really rough go of it. Took about 6 months to get back to normal. It is a virus and so is tough to treat once contracted. Also, it is a one shot deal, good for life, but not necessarily 100% effective.  
Posted 10/25/2010 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
I had the shingles vaccine 2 years ago as recommended by my GP. I have some friends who were in a lot of discomfort and pain because they didn't get it.
Posted 10/25/2010 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
DOES ANYONE KNOW THE COST OF THE SHINGLES VACCINE?

MEL

Posted 10/26/2010 12:44 AM (GMT 0)

Mel,  A year ago the vaccine cost about $170 and my insurance paid all but $40.  You absolutely don't want to get the disease.  I have a friend that has been dealing with it for over three years and is in constant pain and discomfort.  The vaccine is cheap at any cost.

Carlos

Posted 10/26/2010 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Carlos:

I understand. It was $200 at my doctor's office a year ago. I think it's the same cost now. I plan to get it in January when my flexplan renews.

Insurance doesn't cover it, as far as I know.

Does anyone know if Medicare covers it? I get on it in June

I just had the flu shot Friday.

Mel

Posted 10/26/2010 10:57 AM (GMT 0)

Mel,  The original Medicare Part B does not cover the vac.  However, it is covered by some of the Medicare Advantage Plans and Med. Part D Rx plans.  The coverage varies a good bit among the different plans.

Carlos

Posted 10/26/2010 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
I asked about the vaccine at Walgreens (09/2010), and was told about $229.
Posted 10/26/2010 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
That's expensive. I've been playing games with that for the last 2 years. I've been waiting until the end of the year and if I had money left in my flexible spending account I was going to use it for the vaccine. Well, PC wiped out my flex. spending funds by July.

Considering the misery that can be engendered by shingles, I am not being too smart about this. I will take a chance and wait until January (when I have the new funds) and do it then.

I may also have to start SRT in January but I assume that won't matter.

Mel

Posted 10/26/2010 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Mel,

My GP told me that I should wait for 6 months or so after RT before considering the shingles vaccine, as it is not advised for those who have seriously reduced immune systems, which is the case after most radiation therapy.

I am not old enough for the insurance to pay it as preventative, but they will at 60. Pity that the deductible is really high, so I'll pay one way or another. Also, did you have chickenpox as a child? That was one of the "qualifications" for the shingles vaccine.

Posted 10/26/2010 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Actually there was a local doctor's column in our newspaper and he said even if you didn't have chicken pox as a child, you can get the vaccine. He said you should do it because you might think you never had chicken pox but you could have had a very light case of it.

I had chicken pox as a child.

Regarding the shingles vaccine and radiation, can I get the vaccine say on 1/2/11 and start SRT on 2/1/11 or something like that? Do you know? I guess that's a question to ask the radiologist!

Maybe I will ask him.

Mel

Posted 10/26/2010 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mel,

I would ask your GP. I could suspect that "when" would be determined by how long the vaccine takes to reach the desired level of effect (don't have a clue how long that is). They were telling on the news last night that we all should have had the flu vaccine by mid-September, since it takes 6 weeks or so to become effective. My GP says October is fine. Since he is the one who will have to deal with me if sick, I listen to him.

Posted 10/26/2010 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Ask you doctor about the shingles vaccine. It is for those over 60 (I believe) and it does not confer immunity. It reduces the chance of developing the disease but there is still a possibility you can contract the disease (herpes zoster). The vaccine reduced the chance by half. If you have had shingles before as I have, then the vaccine is not for you.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vac-faqs.htm
Posted 10/26/2010 10:02 PM (GMT 0)

tarhoosier said...
A If you have had shingles before as I have, then the vaccine is not for you.

My wife has had shingles TWICE. After the last bout with it, our Doc indicated that she should definitely get the shot but wait about a year after the shingles diagnosis to get it. Both of her episodes with shingles were pretty mild but this disease is known to cause havoc for some folks. Some even get the blisters in their mouth, throat, eyes, almost any place on their body and possibly even internally. I received my shingles shot, flu, pneumonia and lock jaw shots not long ago so should be in pretty good shape other than having PC. We each paid right at $182 for the shingles shot alone.
It's getting costly in our attempts to stay well.
I was reminded that our son also had a mild bout with shingles about two years ago at age 35 so it's not limited to us more "mature" folks.
Posted 10/27/2010 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
It is possible that she had the same outbreak with a dormant period if these events were within a reasonable time period. For those who have had shingles, a recurrence with years between events occurs in less than 5% of patients, a very small number.
http://www.vzvfoundation.org/shingles&phn.html
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