[oramar]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08137/882427-114.stm

[Cherry2000]

I wonder how effective it would be for people under 60? I have had outbreaks twice. It was awful! By the time I realized what it was, it was too late for meds.

[CHATSDALE]

the point about insurance was well taken
these cost about $200.00 and it takes awhile for new meds to work themselves into a formulary of an insurance coverage

[oramar]

Originally Posted by Cherry2000

I wonder how effective it would be for people under 60? I have had outbreaks twice. It was awful! By the time I realized what it was, it was too late for meds.

Interesting question, I don't know what your doctor would say. However, a person under 60 I know just recently mentioned to me that they have had two outbreaks of shingles and their doctor had recommended the vaccine to them.

[rph3664]

I'm pretty sure this would be covered under Medicare Part B, like the flu shot is.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

When I worked at the grocery store, I had a customer in her 80s who developed chest pain which defied diagnosis for a couple of weeks, until she woke up one morning with a bright red stripe of shingles across one side of her chest! She and her husband would come in every day and hang out in the deli with their friends, and they would often stop by the pharmacy and say hi to us, even if they didn't have to pick up anything.

After the breakout, she came in one day wearing a nylon windbreaker in 90-degree heat, and she said, "I'm 82 years old and had four kids, and I can't do that braless thing any more! In other words, she could not wear one for a few days because it was too painful on her skin.

It can be extremely painful and have lifelong effects.

[Ophis]

My father-in-law just had an extreme exacerbation of shingles and lost sight in his left eye. How soon after an exacerbation could he get the vaccine. Please advise any suggestions to help with the recovery from this, it is terribly painful. He just turned 60 last September? Thanks.

[P_RN]

Mama swore I never had chickenpox. I would have sworn that too, until I started having intense pain at my hairline in the back a few years ago. Within a day I knew I had shingles and it progressed down into my ear canal, down my face and I mean it was pain 2 Tylox couldn't touch. Valtrex and tylox and ice bags. It would have been worth a million dollars to have been able to avoid that.

[rph3664]

I just went to Google, and the link I saw said that it is not covered under Medicare Part B but is covered under Part D(isaster).

[NRSKarenRN]

CDC: Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Shingles/Vaccine FAQs

Will zoster vaccine be covered by Medicare for Medicare beneficiaries?

While details are evolving, it is anticipated that zoster vaccine will not be covered under Medicare part B (which covers influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine as well as hepatitis B for moderate and high risk persons). The vaccine will instead be reimbursed through the Medicare Part D program. Beneficiaries should contact their Part D plan for more information.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/...s/vac-faqs.htm