Should I Get The Shingles Vaccine?
Shingles is the common term for a painful viral flare-up of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. It can appear at any age but is more common in adults over age 60. Anyone who has had chicken pox is at risk for shingles. The varicella-zoster virus doesn't leave the body when you recover from chicken pox, but merely goes dormant. Emotional or physical stress, or a weakening of the immune system can lead to a bout of shingles.
Shingles most commonly appears as a painful red rash which often blisters. A patient will experience tingling or nerve pain for several days before the rash appears. Shingles often appears on just one side of the body. The nerve pain associated with shingles can continue for a long time after the rash heals, up to a month or even longer.
For people who have severe and ongoing nerve pain, shingles can be a truly debilitating disease. Shingles is also contagious. If shingles is transmitted to someone who has not yet had chicken pox, that person can develop chicken pox. If they previously had chicken pox, they can also develop shingles.
Fortunately in recent years a vaccination has become available, and the CDC recommends it for all adults over sixty, although some doctors will administer it as early as age 50 to head off attacks. The vaccination is a weakened strain of the virus and is injected into the upper arm. For most people, side effects are minimal, merely a redness and itching of the vaccination site.Because the vaccine is new, it is not yet known how long it provides protection. And it doesn't provide complete protection; it's still possible to get shingles but shingles attacks in people who have been vaccinated are usually briefer and much less severe.
So should you get the shingles vaccine? If you are over 60, the short answer is yes. For most people the vaccine is completely safe, and shingles has the potential to seriously disrupt your life in the short term and even in the long term. However, a few people should avoid the vaccine.
You should not get the shingles vaccine if:
You are allergic to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or any of the substances in the vaccine
You have a weakened immune system from HIV or other diseases that attack the immune system; cancer treatments, or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids.
You have a history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymph system such as lymphoma or leukemia
You currently have active tuberculosis
You are pregnant
The shingles vaccine is usually covered under Medicare Part D plans, and some commercial health insurance providers also cover the vaccine. Check with your particular insurer to confirm coverage.
Shingles most commonly appears as a painful red rash which often blisters. A patient will experience tingling or nerve pain for several days before the rash appears. Shingles often appears on just one side of the body. The nerve pain associated with shingles can continue for a long time after the rash heals, up to a month or even longer.
For people who have severe and ongoing nerve pain, shingles can be a truly debilitating disease. Shingles is also contagious. If shingles is transmitted to someone who has not yet had chicken pox, that person can develop chicken pox. If they previously had chicken pox, they can also develop shingles.
Fortunately in recent years a vaccination has become available, and the CDC recommends it for all adults over sixty, although some doctors will administer it as early as age 50 to head off attacks. The vaccination is a weakened strain of the virus and is injected into the upper arm. For most people, side effects are minimal, merely a redness and itching of the vaccination site.Because the vaccine is new, it is not yet known how long it provides protection. And it doesn't provide complete protection; it's still possible to get shingles but shingles attacks in people who have been vaccinated are usually briefer and much less severe.
So should you get the shingles vaccine? If you are over 60, the short answer is yes. For most people the vaccine is completely safe, and shingles has the potential to seriously disrupt your life in the short term and even in the long term. However, a few people should avoid the vaccine.
You should not get the shingles vaccine if:
You are allergic to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or any of the substances in the vaccine
You have a weakened immune system from HIV or other diseases that attack the immune system; cancer treatments, or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids.
You have a history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymph system such as lymphoma or leukemia
You currently have active tuberculosis
You are pregnant
The shingles vaccine is usually covered under Medicare Part D plans, and some commercial health insurance providers also cover the vaccine. Check with your particular insurer to confirm coverage.