News Story on Shingles Vaccination

[I was misinformed]

The NY Times has a story on shingles vaccination, a subject that has arisen before here. The story basically restates current CDC guidelines without digging much deeper into the science and evidence behind the guidance. The story was most useful to me in that the author provides updated information on the new "Shingrix" vaccine which is likely much more effective than the currently available vaccine. According to the story GlaxoSmithKine applied for FDA approval in October. If things go smoothly it might be available in 1-2 years.
In the "readers' comments" section the author addresses a question that has arisen here at ER-org in earlier discussion, namely whether one can safely get the current vaccine and then Shingrix when it becomes available later. The author says the CDC is now doing a study on this question but that their official guidance is for folks to get the current vaccine and not wait for Shingrex.

The "readers' comments" has some interesting discussion of the theory that the introduction of chicken pox vaccination for children actually contributed to the incidence of shingles in the older population - the idea being that repeated exposure to chicken pox may have acted like a vaccination for the population at risk for shingles. The author relays the CDC's view that this is unlikely - shingles incidence has been increasing for decades for unknown reasons but they see no special increase associated with the introduction of chicken pox vaccine in 1995, and the shingles increase is seen also in countries where the chicken pox vaccine is not widely available.

Anyways here is the link to the story (note The NY Times allows free access to 10 articles per month):

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/02/h...column&rref=collection/column/the-new-old-age

 

[travelover]

Interesting.....I've also read that the original vaccine is less effective after 8 years or so, so maybe the Shingrex will come long as a booster.

 

[powerplay]

Shingrix was just approved by the FDA. The linked article talks about the process and sounds very hopeful that it will provide better protection than the current shingles vaccine.

https://www.statnews.com/2017/10/20/shingles-vaccine-approval/

 

[audreyh1]

I'll keep an eye on it as a booster since I had the Zosatvax vaccine at 55.

 

[candrew]

A shingles outbreak can be very nasty. A good friend of ours recently had an outbreak with the rash spreading into her eyes. Rather than wait and see with the new Shingrix, I went ahead and got the Zostafax last week.

 

[harllee]

I had Shingles in my early 50s (before I had the Shingles shot). It was the worst medical thing that ever happened to me. The pain was so awful I could not even drive for months, ran a temperature for months, had to take disability leave. Even now (15 years later) I still have some pain in the area I had the rash--around my waist. As soon as the doctor allowed me to I had the Shingle vaccine. I have since had Shingles a second time in a different are but it was much milder I guess because of the vaccine. I am interested to hear about the new Shingrix vaccine and I plan to investigate it.

 

[Helen]

Wow, Harlee, I didn't know the outbreak could last for month.

I had a shingles shot about four years ago when I was 56. I have heard horror stories about having shingles and decided it was not worth the risk of waiting until I was 60 to get the shot.

 

[Nemo2]

A good friend of ours recently had an outbreak with the rash spreading into her eyes..

I started this thread almost 13 months ago:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/shingles-83633.html

I'm still taking Prednisolone drops three times a week, (shingles infringement on the cornea), and although the Ophthalmologist says it's "Holding well" it's still there and it appears I may be on the drops indefinitely.

 

[audreyh1]

I started this thread almost 13 months ago:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/shingles-83633.html

I'm still taking Prednisolone drops three times a week, (shingles infringement on the cornea), and although the Ophthalmologist says it's "Holding well" it's still there and it appears I may be on the drops indefinitely.

Oh - wow! That's rough!

 

[Nemo2]

Oh - wow! That's rough!

Ah....as Monty Python's Black Knight said..."I've had worse".

 

[Sunset]

Shingrix was just approved by the FDA. The linked article talks about the process and sounds very hopeful that it will provide better protection than the current shingles vaccine.

https://www.statnews.com/2017/10/20/shingles-vaccine-approval/

This is great : "Shingrix, which should be available to consumers before the end of the year, ....."

I'm going to wait for it, as it is so much more effective. I don't my insurance to say "we paid for the other one, so we aren't paying for this one".

 

[athena53]

I'm very conservative about vaccines (haven't gotten flu or pneumonia vaccines for years) and really didn't like the fear-mongering in the shingles vaccine ads. What changed my mind was talking with a young (20-something) woman in the Geology class I took after I ER'd who reported that the previous weekend she'd had shingles and the pain was so bad she was in tears. That sold me and I got the vaccine. Will definitely talk to my doctor about the new one next time I see her.

 

[braumeister]

Had shingles in my early 50s and spent an agonizing week or ten days lying in bed in excruciating pain. Just an area on my lower back so nothing to really worry about, but a most memorable (forgettable?) experience.

I would highly recommend any shingles vaccine to anyone.

 

[H2ODude]

This thread is motivating me to investigate this. Anyone know if Medicare w a supplement and drug plan typically covers this? I think when I asked pharmacy a few months ago I didn't get a clear answer. However, reading this I may just shuck out the ~$250 each for the two of us.

 

[Sunset]

This thread is motivating me to investigate this. Anyone know if Medicare w a supplement and drug plan typically covers this? I think when I asked pharmacy a few months ago I didn't get a clear answer. However, reading this I may just shuck out the ~$250 each for the two of us.

This should be easy to find out.
"The shingles shot isn’t covered by Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Generally, Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) cover all commercially-available vaccines (like the shingles shot) needed to prevent illness. Contact your Medicare drug plan for more information about coverage."

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/shingles-vaccine.html

 

[Amethyst]

Mr. A. had shingles a few years ago, and that was enough to scare me. Oozy, raw, pimply, red, runny skin on his back. He went to the Dr. who took one look, said "Shingles, mild case" and wrote out an Rx. If that was "mild," I don't want to find out what the next level might be! Nope, nope, nope. Our insurance pays for one shot at age 60.

Lucky young people - never to have chickenpox, thus no shingles risk!

 

[omni550]

This should be easy to find out.
"The shingles shot isn’t covered by Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Generally, Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) cover all commercially-available vaccines (like the shingles shot) needed to prevent illness. Contact your Medicare drug plan for more information about coverage."

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/shingles-vaccine.html

Found this on a AARP forum for Humana-Walmart Part D in 2014
part d and shingles vaccine

Message 6 of 6 (5,170 Views)
‎10-18-2014 09:40 AM
Humana part D, pays a whopping $30 towards a $225 immunization shot. Doctors office want the total amount and with part D thru Walmart/Humana drug plan, was quoted $195 at Walmart pharmacy. Big whoop. Does anyone know where to get it for less? Or should you wait until you have it?

Tommy K in Va.


___


GoodRx has a chart of avg. deductibles for major Part D carriers
https://www.goodrx.com/zostavax/medicare-coverage

Looks like a bit of variation in co-pays.
omni

 

[braumeister]

Lucky young people - never to have chickenpox, thus no shingles risk!

Not true. I used to think the same, and assumed I was immune to shingles since I never had chickenpox as a kid.

But the doc straightened me out on that. It seems that some kids have chickenpox but never show any symptoms of it at all. So that was me, and I paid the price later.

 

[Sunset]

Found this on a AARP forum for Humana-Walmart Part D in 2014
part d and shingles vaccine

Message 6 of 6 (5,170 Views)
‎10-18-2014 09:40 AM
Humana part D, pays a whopping $30 towards a $225 immunization shot. Doctors office want the total amount and with part D thru Walmart/Humana drug plan, was quoted $195 at Walmart pharmacy. Big whoop. Does anyone know where to get it for less? Or should you wait until you have it?

Tommy K in Va.

GoodRx has a chart of avg. deductibles for major Part D carriers
https://www.goodrx.com/zostavax/medicare-coverage

Looks like a bit of variation in co-pays.
omni

It makes sense there is a variation in co-pays, since there is a variation in monthly plan costs.

 

[tmm99]

Not true. I used to think the same, and assumed I was immune to shingles since I never had chickenpox as a kid.



But the doc straightened me out on that. It seems that some kids have chickenpox but never show any symptoms of it at all. So that was me, and I paid the price later.

I requested an anti-body test to see if I'd had chicken pox and the test showed I did, so I got vaccinated for shingles.

 

[harllee]

Found this on a AARP forum for Humana-Walmart Part D in 2014
part d and shingles vaccine

Message 6 of 6 (5,170 Views)
‎10-18-2014 09:40 AM
Humana part D, pays a whopping $30 towards a $225 immunization shot. Doctors office want the total amount and with part D thru Walmart/Humana drug plan, was quoted $195 at Walmart pharmacy. Big whoop. Does anyone know where to get it for less? Or should you wait until you have it?

Tommy K in Va.


___


GoodRx has a chart of avg. deductibles for major Part D carriers
https://www.goodrx.com/zostavax/medicare-coverage

Looks like a bit of variation in co-pays.
omni

Tommy, please go ahead and get the shingles vaccine now even if you have to pay for it. I had shingles when I was in my early 50s, had not had the vaccine, I was sick for months and still have pain now 15 years later. I spent thousands of dollars on medications and treatments to get over the shingles and missed work. (And could not play golf for a year!!) Once you have a shingles outbreak, the shingles vaccine will not help you get rid of it. But once I was mostly recovered my Doctor recommended I get the single shot because you can get shingles over and over. In fact, I got shingles again a few years ago but it was not nearly as bad as the first time because I had had the shot.

 

[gauss]

Newsflash - ACIP/CDC votes - Shringrix

I just finished watching a live webcast of the (ACIP) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices discussion and vote on recommendations for the use of the new Shringrix vaccine for Shingles.

The ACIP voted in the affirmative on three proposals in support of the use of Shringrix. This is in addition of the FDA approvals for marketing/use of this drug obtained in recent days.

This will likely drive insurance coverage and provider use of the new vaccine. ed: Once the CDC Director adopts the recommendations.

Highlights of the 3 votes include the following changes

- Shringrix recommended for use on everyone over 50 (previous vaccine was only recommend for those over 60)

- Shringrix recommended for those who have received the prior vaccine.

- Preferential approval for Shringrix over the prior vaccine.


When I turned 50 years old, my primary physician declined to prescribe the prior vaccine when I asked, due to my not being age 60 and thus lacking evidence of it being beneficial. I did not try to shop physicians in an attempt to bypass his recommendation.

The preferential recommendation was very controversial in that there was not "real-world" experience with Shingrix outside of medical trials. This recommendation was due to the extensive evidence of superior performance of the new vaccine in the trials.

This may eventually drive the prior vaccine out of the market due to the preferential recommendation for Shingrix.

The minutes of the meeting, slide, and replays of the video will be available going forward, but probably not for a few weeks out.

Here is the link to the meeting page.

-gauss

disclaimer: I'm an engineer with no professional experience in the health care sector.

 

[Chuckanut]

Tommy, please go ahead and get the shingles vaccine now even if you have to pay for it. but it was not nearly as bad as the first time because I had had the shot.

I agree.

It is relatively cheap insurance against a , very very nasty illness. We need to do what is best for us, and not let insurance companies, the medical complex, politicians, etc. make the decisions for us.

 

[JoeWras]

Not true. I used to think the same, and assumed I was immune to shingles since I never had chickenpox as a kid.

But the doc straightened me out on that. It seems that some kids have chickenpox but never show any symptoms of it at all. So that was me, and I paid the price later.

I think that was me too. I never recall having it. My mom doesn't recall anything except a big pimple when I was very young. That was probably the pox. I was exposed pretty badly at age 30 without getting them.

I survived until 1997 (age 35) "without" having had them, and finally got the available vaccine. But I'm starting to think I had the pox and will get the shingles vaccine soon. DW had shingles twice and it was no picnic the first time. The second time, she got treatment at the tingle stage and doc gave her the antiviral treatment which made for a truly mild case.

 

[joeea]

My wife and I got the old Zostavax vaccine a few years back.

She got protected, I got shingles.

The doctor told me that in rare cases the vaccine could cause shingles, since it contained a weakened version of the live virus. I got what he termed a "mild case" of shingles. If that was mild, I'd hate to get a normal case. It was two years ago, and the places where eruptions occurred are still sensitive.

I will be asking my doctor about the new Shingrix vaccine. Since it is made from a DNA piece of the virus and not the weakened live virus, it may work for me. But I'll still be cautious and probably nervous.