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Shingles and Shingrix. By Our Student Pharmacist, Justin Yu.

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Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash appears as a single stripe along either the left or the right side of the body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clears up within two to four weeks.

Shingles on the face is quite serious as it can affect the eye and lead to vision loss.

The most common complication of shingles is long-term nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia. This pain occurs in the areas where the shingles rash was, even after the rash clears up. The neuralgia can last for months or years after the rash goes away. Postherpetic neuralgia pain can be excruciating to the point that it can interfere with daily life and may require long-term prescription pain medications.

Image 1Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same pathogen called the varicella-zoster virus. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus continues to live inside the body in an inactive state. As a person grows older and their immune system weakens, varicella can eventually reactivate and cause shingles.

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There is an effective vaccine for protection against shingles called Shingrix. The vaccine is easily accessible by visiting your local pharmacy.

If you are 50 years or older, it is recommended to get two doses of Shingrix, separated by two to six months. Those 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems due to a disease state such as cancer or immunosuppressive drugs should also get two doses of Shingrix.

Shingrix is 90% effective at the prevention of shingles. For those who previously received the old shingles vaccine called Zostavax, it is recommended to get the two doses of the Shingrix vaccine. Zostavax, unlike Shingrix, is only 50% effective in preventing shingles. Zostavax gives a 50/50 chance of being protected. Not the best odds.

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If you ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix, currently have shingles, or are a woman who is currently pregnant, it is advised to not get the Shingrix vaccine.

If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.

Like all vaccines, a sore arm with mild or moderate pain is very common after the Shingrix vaccine administration. The following day after the vaccine, some people may feel tired, have muscle pain, experience a headache, shivers, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. These bothersome side effects may hinder a person’s ability to do normal daily activities for a couple days. These side effects might occur after the first or second dose of Shingrix, or both doses. Side effects such muscle pain or fevers, can be combatted with over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Insurance coverage regarding Shingrix:

  • Medicare Part D plans cover Shingrix, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan.
  • Many private health insurance plans cover Shingrix, but there may be a cost involved.
  • Medicare Part B does NOT cover Shingrix.
  • Medicaid may or may not cover Shingrix; contact your insurer to find out.
  • The manufacturer of Shingrix, GlaxoSmithKline, offers vaccine assistance programs to provide vaccines to eligible adults who cannot afford to get the vaccine or who lack health insurance. To get help, go HERE.

References:

Shingles. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054. Published September 17, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022.

Shingrix shingles vaccination: What everyone should know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html. Published January 24, 2022. Accessed March 25, 2022.

 

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