DermHelpCentral

Thoughts About the Shingles Vaccine

This short article from the NY Times may help you to decide if you want to get the vaccine.

If you get it at age 60 it decreases your chances of getting shingles by 64% in the next five years.

If you get it at age 70 it decreases your chances of getting shingles by 40% in the next five years.

If you get it at age 80 it decreases your chances of getting shingles by 18% in the next five years.

It is not known if the vaccine is still effective after five years.  The literature suggests that those who have had the vaccine seem to get milder cases of shingles.

Shingles Vaccine

This is a good article about the shingles vaccine (it appeared in the NY Times on May 15, 2012).

"Large clinical trials showed the vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by roughly half.'  It's approved for people 50 - 80 years of age and some insurance plans (particulalry Medicare Part D) will cover part of the cost.  It is likey that one can get it at a pharmacy since the physician's office visit is not reimbursable (unless one is seeing a patient for another reason).

To read the article, click "Shingles Vaccine Returns."

I have been told that is is less effective after age 80.