Ronnieboy
Full time employment: Posting here.
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 748
Answers to some questions:
1) Is it recommended at age 50 or 60?
The FDA had lowered their recommended vaccination of shingles to 50 years old, the CDC has kept it at 60 years old. This is why every insurance company has a different answer. Some have followed the FDA and will pay for it at 50+, others are following the CDC and won't pay till 60+ (another way to keep costs lower for them??). <<-- BTW, this is a trick that all insurance companies use to not pay for certain drugs. If the Doctor prescribed you an expensive medication, but is using it for off labeled use then the insurance company can deny the claim saying it hasn't been approved by the FDA for that specific use even if the off-labeled use is well documented to work.
"Update on Recommendations for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccine
Weekly
August 22, 2014 / 63(33);729-731
Craig M. Hales, MD1, Rafael Harpaz, MD1, Ismael Ortega-Sanchez, PhD1, Stephanie R. Bialek, MD1 (Author affiliations at end of text)
Herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax [Merck & Co., Inc.]) was licensed in 2006 and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in 2008 for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) and its complications among adults aged ≥60 years (1). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Zostavax in 2011 for adults aged 50 through 59 years based on a large study of safety and efficacy in this age group (2). ACIP initially considered the use of herpes zoster vaccine among adults aged 50 through 59 years in June 2011, but declined to recommend the vaccine in this age group, citing shortages of Zostavax and limited data on long-term protection afforded by herpes zoster vaccine (2). In October 2013, ACIP reviewed the epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications, herpes zoster vaccine supply, short-term vaccine efficacy in adults aged 50 through 59 years, short- and long- term vaccine efficacy and effectiveness in adults aged ≥60 years, an updated cost-effectiveness analysis, and deliberations of the ACIP herpes zoster work group, all of which are summarized in this report. No vote was taken, and ACIP maintained its current recommendation that herpes zoster vaccine be routinely recommended for adults aged ≥60 years" (ACIP=CDC)
2) Should I get it if I haven't had the chicken pox?
The short answer is YES. It is believed that pre chicken pox vaccinations (1990) that the majority of people had been exposed to or had the chicken pox, but due to light or no symptoms, the possibility that they were never officially diagnosed or that it was forgotten that little John or Mary had them 50 years ago. You'd be safer to get the vaccination.
3) Am I contagious after I get the shingles shot?
While the vaccine is a live virus, it is inactivated so it cannot replicate to cause the full on disease when injected. You do want to have a healthy immune system when you get the vaccination to have the best results (protection) from the vaccine. There are no documented cases that you can spread chickenpox (to varicella virgins) or shingles to another person from the vaccination.
But if you develop shingles itself you are contagious until blisters stop forming and are crusted over.
4) Does my insurance cover it?
Tricky question. I have seen every Tricare plan cover all vaccinations for zero copay. Easiest way to find out is to stop by your pharmacy and ask them to give you a shingles shot, let them know that you want to find out the price before you are going to get it. If it comes out at the cash price $220-275 then say no thanks or as other people have said, that is a small price to pay for moderate protection from the shingles. Another option is to call the insurance number on the back of your card, I'd call the pharmacy benefit first as almost all immunizations are being pushed to pharmacies as a less expensive alternative than the MD office.
Medicare part D - pharmacy coverage will pay for the shingles vaccine. There are a few caveats. Have you hit your deductible? If so you probably want to get it done before the end of the year, before the reset button gets hit. If you haven't maybe you should wait till January and have a big chunk of it taken care of with your shingles shot. Many part D copays run from $45 to $90 (after deductible).
1) Is it recommended at age 50 or 60?
The FDA had lowered their recommended vaccination of shingles to 50 years old, the CDC has kept it at 60 years old. This is why every insurance company has a different answer. Some have followed the FDA and will pay for it at 50+, others are following the CDC and won't pay till 60+ (another way to keep costs lower for them??). <<-- BTW, this is a trick that all insurance companies use to not pay for certain drugs. If the Doctor prescribed you an expensive medication, but is using it for off labeled use then the insurance company can deny the claim saying it hasn't been approved by the FDA for that specific use even if the off-labeled use is well documented to work.
"Update on Recommendations for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccine
Weekly
August 22, 2014 / 63(33);729-731
Craig M. Hales, MD1, Rafael Harpaz, MD1, Ismael Ortega-Sanchez, PhD1, Stephanie R. Bialek, MD1 (Author affiliations at end of text)
Herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax [Merck & Co., Inc.]) was licensed in 2006 and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in 2008 for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) and its complications among adults aged ≥60 years (1). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Zostavax in 2011 for adults aged 50 through 59 years based on a large study of safety and efficacy in this age group (2). ACIP initially considered the use of herpes zoster vaccine among adults aged 50 through 59 years in June 2011, but declined to recommend the vaccine in this age group, citing shortages of Zostavax and limited data on long-term protection afforded by herpes zoster vaccine (2). In October 2013, ACIP reviewed the epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications, herpes zoster vaccine supply, short-term vaccine efficacy in adults aged 50 through 59 years, short- and long- term vaccine efficacy and effectiveness in adults aged ≥60 years, an updated cost-effectiveness analysis, and deliberations of the ACIP herpes zoster work group, all of which are summarized in this report. No vote was taken, and ACIP maintained its current recommendation that herpes zoster vaccine be routinely recommended for adults aged ≥60 years" (ACIP=CDC)
2) Should I get it if I haven't had the chicken pox?
The short answer is YES. It is believed that pre chicken pox vaccinations (1990) that the majority of people had been exposed to or had the chicken pox, but due to light or no symptoms, the possibility that they were never officially diagnosed or that it was forgotten that little John or Mary had them 50 years ago. You'd be safer to get the vaccination.
3) Am I contagious after I get the shingles shot?
While the vaccine is a live virus, it is inactivated so it cannot replicate to cause the full on disease when injected. You do want to have a healthy immune system when you get the vaccination to have the best results (protection) from the vaccine. There are no documented cases that you can spread chickenpox (to varicella virgins) or shingles to another person from the vaccination.
But if you develop shingles itself you are contagious until blisters stop forming and are crusted over.
4) Does my insurance cover it?
Tricky question. I have seen every Tricare plan cover all vaccinations for zero copay. Easiest way to find out is to stop by your pharmacy and ask them to give you a shingles shot, let them know that you want to find out the price before you are going to get it. If it comes out at the cash price $220-275 then say no thanks or as other people have said, that is a small price to pay for moderate protection from the shingles. Another option is to call the insurance number on the back of your card, I'd call the pharmacy benefit first as almost all immunizations are being pushed to pharmacies as a less expensive alternative than the MD office.
Medicare part D - pharmacy coverage will pay for the shingles vaccine. There are a few caveats. Have you hit your deductible? If so you probably want to get it done before the end of the year, before the reset button gets hit. If you haven't maybe you should wait till January and have a big chunk of it taken care of with your shingles shot. Many part D copays run from $45 to $90 (after deductible).
