Shingles Vaccine for Seniors

Information about Herpes Zoster Vaccination

Sep 23, 2009 Tamiko Nicholson

Zostavax can help prevent shingles. Find out about the effectiveness, side effects and how long the shingles vaccine lasts.

Seniors in Canada are now able to get a vaccine to protect against getting shingles, which is also known as herpes zoster. Merck Frosst makes the vaccine called Zostavax that has already been available in the US for several years. The pharmaceutical company says Zostavax is designed for people 60 years of age or older and it is the only vaccine of its kind available on the market right now.

Shingles is Linked to the Chickenpox

A person is at risk of getting shingles if they have ever had the chickenpox, although not all people who have had the chickenpox get shingles. The chicken pox virus lies dormant in the body and can reactivate and cause painful skin and nerve damage.

Seniors are More at Risk for Shingles

The chance of getting shingles increases, as does the severity of the disease, as a person ages. Merck Frosst says that about two-thirds of cases are in people who are 50 years old or older. As well, shingles can develop into post-herpetic neuralgia which is pain that is experienced after the rash has gone. For those with shingles, PHN affects more than half of sufferers who are over the age of 60.

Effectiveness of Shingles Vaccine

Merck Frostt says the vaccine is effective based on a study on the prevention of shingles that involved 38,546 people who were 60 years of age or older. The herpes zoster vaccine reduced the risk of getting the disease, compared to the placebo group, by 51 per cent. Zostavax was also found to lower the chances of getting severe and long-lasting pain associated to the illness by 73 per cent.

How Long Vaccine Lasts

In a May 2009 update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says new research is suggesting that the Zostavax vaccine lasts for about six years, but it could be effective for a longer time period. In an August 2009 update, Merck Frost says its studies found the vaccine lasted for four years. More studies are being done to see exactly how long the vaccine can protect against herpes zoster. The vaccine maker adds that "the need for revaccination has not yet been defined."

Side Effects of Shingles Vaccine

There are some side effects linked to having this vaccine. Merck Frosst says reports of “redness, pain, swelling, itching, warmth and bruising at the injection site” were the most common. Some people also said they had headaches, fever, an allergic reaction and/or swollen glands after having the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that a chicken-pox like rash can develop near the vaccination injection site in some people. It recommends that the rash be covered until it goes away.

Toxicology of Herpes Zoster Vaccine

The Zostavax vaccine has not been studied for its potential to impair fertility or whether it could be carcinogenic or mutagenic.

Where to Get Shingles Vaccine

The vaccine has been out for awhile in the US, so is more readily available. It requires special storage and it’s new to Canada as of September 2009 , so it is not available at all clinics and doctors’ offices. It has to be kept frozen and used right away after it is taken out of the freezer. Merck Frosst has created a website for locating vaccination sites in Canada. Enter a postal code to get a list of doctors and clinics that stock and administer the vaccine. The site will be updated regularly, so check back to see if more doctors in one's area are now offering it.

Cost of Vaccine in Canada and the US

Although the vaccine has been approved by Health Canada, there is no coverage yet by provincial health insurance. Merck Frosst says the list price for the vaccine is $150. For the US, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says the shingles vaccine is covered by the Medicare Part D plans, but the amount that a person has to pay varies. The herpes zoster vaccine is not covered by Medicare Part B. For those with private insurance or Medicaid, contact the insurer to see if there is coverage for the vaccine.

To find out who can and can't get the vaccine, check out Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine? Read about what is in the vaccine at how it works at Learn About Shingles Vaccine.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines and Preventable Diseases: Herpes Zoster Vaccine Q&A (Shingles), May 2009

Merck Frosst, Product Monograph: Zostavax, August 5, 2009.

Merck Frosst, Merck Frosst’s Zostavax Now Available in Canada, September 22, 2009.

The copyright of the article Shingles Vaccine for Seniors in Seniors' Health/Medicare is owned by Tamiko Nicholson. Permission to republish Shingles Vaccine for Seniors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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