New shingles vaccine - Shingrix

[BOBOT]

This new vaccine is said to be more effective and longer-lasting than the previous one (Zostavax). It's becoming widely available and is covered by many insurance plans. It's pricier, but it's worth it to me to avoid shingles!

I got a script for it today, but haven't gotten it yet (it requires 2 shots roughly 6 months apart).

Has anyone had it yet?

 

[braumeister]

Quite a long thread about it recently:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/new-shingrx-shingles-vaccine-89949.html

 

[joeea]

I would get it if I could.

Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of cancer infusions that would prevent the Shingrix from working, so I can't get the vaccine just yet.

A few years back my wife and I got the older Zostavax vaccine (the version with the live but weakened virus).

My wife got immunities, but I got shingles! The doctor said that was rare. Oh well. Once my cancer treatments started, they removed any immunities I might have built up, so I'm unprotected once again.

Shingles is no fun. It was painful and cost me a bunch of nights worth of sleep. As soon as I'm eligible for Shingrix I'm getting it. Meanwhile, I'm taking an anti-viral medication and hoping for the best.

 

[travelover]

Just got my first one at Costco. I have a cheap Medicare Part D so I had to pay out of pocket - $150-ish. I felt lousy for 48 hours after the shot - lethargic, like a cold makes you feel. Also shoulder was sore for a few days.

 

[HtownRose]

Thank you for reminding me about this! Also appreciate knowing I may feel poorly afterwards - will schedule accordingly.

Just checked with my company "health pro consultant" & he says it's covered 100% since I'm over 50 if I go to a network provider.

He was unable to reach my PCP to find out if they had it ("I was forced to leave a voicemail" - LOL welcome to my world) but found a Walgreens Clinic & a Red Clinic that will do it & file with my insurer. I was hoping I could get it at Kroger (fuel points!) but he says they do not submit claims to medical insurance - this may be the pharm vs. medical issue I saw raised in the previous thread.

 

[gcgang]

I think you're supposed to get this if you had childhood chicken pox? What if you don't know if you had the disease?

 

[aja8888]

I think you're supposed to get this if you had childhood chicken pox? What if you don't know if you had the disease?

You either take your chances, or get the shots.

 

[Potstickers]

Well...annoying. Aetna has a published coverage decision that says it is considered medically necessary for patients over 50 who are not immunocompromised. My doc sent an Rx for it over to CVS...and they then tell me that it isn't covered under my plan.

 

[gauss]

I think you're supposed to get this if you had childhood chicken pox? What if you don't know if you had the disease?

I believe the recommendation to get the Shingrix vaccination is not conditioned on prior Chicken Pox.

From the CDC:

It is not necessary to screen, either verbally or by laboratory serology, for evidence of prior varicella infection.

 

[6miths]

I think you're supposed to get this if you had childhood chicken pox? What if you don't know if you had the disease?

Then you definitely get it. First episode varicella in an adult is much more dangerous than shingles. Either way you get protection from both. Almost all adults in temperate climates have had chicken pox in childhood. It is a very contagious disease.

 

[haha]

Almost all adults in temperate climates have had chicken pox in childhood. It is a very contagious disease.

Many people my age will remember "chicken pox" parties, when our mothers would take us to homes of kids on the street who had active chicken pox. As a college student I had several infectious diseases, like rubella, which I would have sworn that I had had as a child. Once I was freaking out over what I assumed must have been syphilis or worse. My girlfriend took one look at me and said-you have measles! University health confirmed her diagnosis.

Ha

 

[SecondCor521]

Many people my age will remember "chicken pox" parties, when our mothers would take us to homes of kids on the street who had active chicken pox. As a college student I had several infectious diseases, like rubella, which I would have sworn that I had had as a child. Once I was freaking out over what I assumed must have been syphilis or worse. My girlfriend took one look at me and said-you have measles! University health confirmed her diagnosis.

Ha

This is changing for kids born around 2000 or later. I have three kids and despite my best efforts, I was unable to get them to contract chickenpox as children from their friends because the vaccine was starting to be used around that time. They ended up getting the vaccine themselves because they couldn't contract the disease in the wild.

 

[Chuckanut]

I had my second shot yesterday. My medicare Part D plan covered part of it since I have fulfilled my deductible for the year.

Today, I am a bit sore over my entire body. Nothing serious, just the mild soreness that is similar to what one gets after weeks of being behind a disk and then going outside and spending a few hours bending, crouching and carrying stuff in the garden.

 

[misanman]

Update - previously I posted that DW and I were on a waiting list for the new Shingrix vaccine. DW has experienced a strange, severe, pain this week. Urgent care and ER on Monday but no diagnosis. Yesterday she developed a rash and we visited the doctor this morning. Diagnosis: shingles. :-(

 

[SumDay]

Never mind...

 

[MichaelB]

Update - previously I posted that DW and I were on a waiting list for the new Shingrix vaccine. DW has experienced a strange, severe, pain this week. Urgent care and ER on Monday but no diagnosis. Yesterday she developed a rash and we visited the doctor this morning. Diagnosis: shingles. :-(

That’s too bad. Wish her the best, hopefully it will pass quickly and with little discomfort.

 

[Dtail]

Update - previously I posted that DW and I were on a waiting list for the new Shingrix vaccine. DW has experienced a strange, severe, pain this week. Urgent care and ER on Monday but no diagnosis. Yesterday she developed a rash and we visited the doctor this morning. Diagnosis: shingles. :-(

Damn bad timing. Wish her a quick recovery.

 

[misanman]

Thank you for the well wishes. Doctor has her on a couple of meds that are new to me. The possible side effects of one of them are pretty scary. He told her she would need to wait a year before getting the vaccine.

 

[madsquopper]

Then you definitely get it. First episode varicella in an adult is much more dangerous than shingles. Either way you get protection from both. Almost all adults in temperate climates have had chicken pox in childhood. It is a very contagious disease.

I don't believe this is the case, at least according to my doctor plus what I could find online. At my first physical after age 60 I was tested for chickenpox as I could not recall having it as a kid, and everyone was surprised that I had no trace of the chickenpox antibody. So I ended up getting the pure chickenpox vaccine instead of the shingles ones, since after that it would not be possible to get shingles.

Larry

 

[O2Bfree]

My mom had shingles in 2015 and still suffers from nerve pain. She'd never had a vaccine. The doctor told her to go ahead and get the new shingrix vaccine, which she did on May 25th. They haven't called her back yet for the second shot.

 

[CaptTom]

Since I guess we've moved the discussion over to this thread from the old Shingrix one...

Is anyone still having trouble with availability? It took me forever to find someone who could give me the second shot, and I only got it then because I happened to call on the right day, and they were giving priority to those who were overdue already. It would be just about impossible to get a 1st shot around here, as of a few weeks ago.

I'm just wondering if that's finally starting to change.

 

[Chuckanut]

My pharmacy has a waiting list of people who need the 2nd shot within 6 months. They are currently giving their meager supply of vaccine to those who had #1 in June. Need the first shot? FORGET ABOUT IT at the present time.

 

[razztazz]

I just recently (2 weeks ago) called every pharma in town. All said the manufacturer knows about shortages and won't have anything available till January.

We'll see.

 

[O2Bfree]

From https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/faqs.html:

Q: Is Shingrix currently on backorder?

A: Yes. Due to high levels of demand for GSK’s Shingrix vaccine, providers should anticipate ordering limits and intermittent shipping delays for Shingrix. GSK has indicated delays may last between now and the end of 2018 and may affect vaccine ordered directly from GSK or through wholesalers and distributors. GSK is currently working to make more doses available in the near term for the U.S. market in order to meet the demand for this vaccine.

Q: What is the clinical guidance during the Shingrix delay?

A: Shingrix is the preferred shingles vaccine. You and patients should make every effort to ensure that two doses are administered within the recommended interval. If more than 6 months have elapsed since the first dose, administer the second dose as soon as possible. Do not restart the vaccine series, and do not substitute Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live) for the second dose of Shingrix. If you are out of Shingrix and a patient needs a second dose, the Vaccine Finder may be helpful for patients to locate other providers that have Shingrix.

I was thinking about getting the vaccine myself early, since I'm only 56, and just paying for it myself, but I guess I'll wait.

 

[TwoByFour]

I don't believe this is the case, at least according to my doctor plus what I could find online. At my first physical after age 60 I was tested for chickenpox as I could not recall having it as a kid, and everyone was surprised that I had no trace of the chickenpox antibody. So I ended up getting the pure chickenpox vaccine instead of the shingles ones, since after that it would not be possible to get shingles.

Larry

I never had chickenpox as a kid so I was not going to get the shingles vax. I never thought about the chance of getting chickenpox as an adult. I thought it is fairly rare these days, like 1-2% of what it was 20 years ago.