• Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax)
• Flu and Pneumonia Shots
• School Immunizations and Travel Immunizations

Shingles

Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster. There are an estimated 1 million cases each year in this country. Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles. However the risk of disease increases as a person gets older. About half of all cases occur among men and women 60 years old or older.

About half of all shingles cases occur among men and women age 60 years and older.

People who have medical conditions that keep their immune systems from working properly, such as certain cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and people who receive immunosuppressive drugs, such as steroids and drugs given after organ transplantation are also at greater risk of getting shingles.

People who develop shingles typically have only one episode in their lifetime. In rare cases, however, a person can have a second or even a third episode.

Cause

Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body in a dormant (inactive) state. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles. Herpes zoster is not caused by the same virus that causes genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Prevention

The only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and the long-term pain that can follow shingles is to get vaccinated. A vaccine for shingles (called Zostavax) is licensed for persons aged 60 years and older. For more information about preventing shingles, visit the CDC Vaccination page.

Treatment

Several antiviral medicines—acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir—are available to treat shingles. These medicines will help shorten the length and severity of the illness. But to be effective, they must be started as soon as possible after the rash appears. Thus, people who have or think they might have shingles should call their healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

Analgesics (pain medicine) may help relieve the pain caused by shingles. Wet compresses, calamine lotion, and colloidal oatmeal baths may help relieve some of the itching.

At this time, CDC does not have a recommendation for routine use of shingles vaccine in persons 50 through 59 years old. However, the vaccine is approved by FDA for people 50 and older. It is available by prescription from a healthcare professional. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about shingles vaccine.

Information found at: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html

Availability of Vaccine

• Watson’s Drug Store (Insurance & Cash)
• Health Department (Cash only)

Billing

Zostavax (the Shingles vaccine) is billed differently than any other vaccine. Zostavax is billed through the patient’s prescription insurance, not Medicare or Medicare supplement insurance. Prescription insurance can be private, through their employer or even a Medicare part D plan.

Patient obtains a prescription from a physician. You may drop by or call Watson’s Drug Store to check and see if your insurance covers this. Some insurance begins covering at age 55+; the normal age almost all cover is at age 60. The Health Department may ONLY vaccinate those age 60 and over.

If you already know your insurance covers the vaccine, you may go to Watson’s Drug Store.

If it is not covered by your prescription insurance then Watson’s will send you to the health department where we accept cash and can save you money, (around $20).

Health Department Cost $184 for in-county residents and $186 for out-of-county residents.

The Health Department is NOT an HMO provider.

Flu and Pneumonia Shots

Medicare Part B and Medicaid will pay for Flu & Pneumonia vaccines.
(Physician’s order is required for Pneumonia)

Cost for a Regular Dose Flu shot is $30.

Cost for a HIGH DOSE Flu Shot for 65 years and older only is $54.

Cost for a Pneumonia (PVC) shot is $88 and Prevnar shot is $172.

We are NOT an HMO provider.

Vaccines at Bond County Health Department:

(618) 664-1442 – ext. 126