The CDC has come out with the recommendation that all adults over the age of 60 be vaccinated against shingles.  A single dose of the Zostavax vaccine is adequate even if someone has already had shingles.  It can lessen the chances of another outbreak.  Researchers found that, overall, in those aged 60 and older the vaccine reduced the occurrence of shingles by about 50 percent.  For adults aged 60-69 it reduced the occurrence by 64 percent.  The most common side effects of the vaccine were redness, pain, tenderness and swelling at the site of the injection, itching, headache.

     During an adults lifetime studies show that 99% of Americans age 40 and older have had the chicken pox, even if they don't remember getting the disease.  The varicella zoster virus, which causes the chicken pox then becomes dormant within the sensory nerves just outside the spinal canal.  If it reactivates later in life, the result can be the shingles.  The CDC reports about 1 million cases of shingles per year.  The risk of developing shingles increases with age starting around age 50 and is highest in the elderly.  Half of people living to age 85 have had or will develop shingles.  The risk of suffering chronic pain also increases with age.

     The vaccine does not treat shingles or the chronic pain that can occur after an outbreak.  And in fact once the outbreak occurs the damage to the nerve has already happened. So the usual antiviral medications that are prescribed by the family doctor to lessen the duration and severity of the immediate symptoms does not have any impact on the chance of chronic pain from shingles. No matter how quickly you start taking the antivirals, once it has broken out your chances of having chronic pain are no less than someone who didn't take the antivirals.  Only the vaccine can reduce the incidence of occurrence and thus reduce the chances of ending up with chronic pain (Post Herpetic Neuralgia)

     Currently Medicare Part D covers the cost, not Medicare Part B.  What this means is that your doctor can not get paid for doing this in his office and the injection has to be done by a pharmacist who subscribes to the Medicare Part D program.  This doesn't meet the common sense test but it is the current rule in place from our government.   

     I certainly support the CDC recommendations and encourage all over the age of 60 to get the vaccine.  Having treated many patients over the years who have been left with Post Herpetic Neuralgia, I have seen firsthand the devastation that can occur to peoples lives who have been afflicted.