Zostovax, the Shingles Vaccine

What is Zostovax?

Zostavax is a vaccine that is used for adults 60 years of age or older to prevent Shingles.

Zostavax works by helping your immune system protect you from getting Shingles, the associated pain and other serious complications. If you do get shingles, even though you have been vaccinated, Zostavax may help prevent the nerve pain that can follow shingles in some people.

What is shingles or Zoster?

It’s a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It usually appears on one side of the body and can last 2 to 4 weeks. Its main symptom is pain and can be quite sever. Sometimes the pain continues after the rash goes away. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia. Many times this pain can be debilitating lasting for weeks, months or even years. Shingles is caused by the Varicell Zoster Virus. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Only someone who has had a case of chickenpox or has gotten the chickenpox vaccine can get shingles. The virus stays in your body and can reappear many years later to cause a case of shingles. You can’t catch shingles from another person with shingles. However a person who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine could get chickenpox from some with shingles. This situation is very uncommon.

Want to learn more about shingles? www.shinglesinfo.com has a lot of valuable information.

Who should get the Zoster or Shingles Vaccination?

Anyone 60 years of age or older should consider the vaccination.

You should not receive the Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax) if you:

• Are allergic to gelatin or neomycin
• Have a disease or condition that causes a weakened immune system
• Have active TB (tuberculosis) that is not being treated
• Are pregnant or may be pregnant

Why should I get the Vaccination?

Shingles or Herpes Zoster is a painful disease. Some people may have the potential of long lasting pain from weeks to months to years after the rash disappears. The zoster vaccine has been shown to produce two beneficial results. Reduction of the disease by 51% and if one were to contract zoster even though they got the vaccine, the outbreak can be significantly reduced. The post herpetic neuralgia (continued pain when the rash has disappeared) for those who contract shingles after vaccination is reduced by 66%.

Is the Vaccination Safe?

The vaccination is FDA approved and has been licensed since 2006.

How is Zostavax given? What are the side effects?

Zostavax is given as a single dose injection usually in the upper arm.

Common side effects are:

• Redness, pain, tenderness, itching and swelling at the site of injection
• Headache What should I tell you before I get Vaccinated? Please let us know if you:
• Have or have had any medical problems
• What medications you are taking, including those that might weaken your immune system (having a list with name of medication and dosing is helpful)
• Any allergies you might have
• If you’ve had shingles in the past
• May be in close contact (including household contact) with someone who may be pregnant and has not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox, or someone who has problems with their immune system

Is Zostovax covered by Medicare?

At this time it is not covered by Medicare Part B. Therefore, it is an out of pocket expense.

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Zostovax, the shingles vaccination