New Shingles Vaccine
10-18-2018, 05:52 AM
#41
This went out to all Army retirees today:
-- Chuck
Shingles Vaccination Update
By Ronald Wolf, Writer-Editor, Office of the Surgeon General/Medical Command
In the last issue, we included a reminder for Soldiers for Life to ask about vaccines for shingles. The vaccine is recommended for everyone over 60 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but approved by the Food and Drug Administration for those over 50.
A newer vaccine, Shingrix, is now available and is considered to be more effective and longer lasting. The CDC recommends Shingrix for shingles and related complications. Usually, two doses of Shingrix are needed with injections 2 to 6 months apart for adults aged 50 years or older.
You should consider being vaccinated with Shingrix even if you have already been vaccinated with the current vaccine Zostavax. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of Zostavax wanes over time. If you have previously had a Zostavax vaccine injection, discuss with your physician whether you should and how soon you can receive a Shingrix vaccination. You should wait at least 8 weeks after a patient received Zostavax to administer Shingrix.
One thing: check at your health care facility about availability of Shingrix. Demand is high, and some temporary shortages have been reported. To recap, shingles is a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in the body and can stay dormant for decades.
During a shingles outbreak, a rash consisting of blisters forms; it usually fades away in 2 to 4 weeks. The problem with shingles is the nerve pain that may last for months after the rash goes away.
The pain can be deep and intense, and most over-the-counter pain killers have little effect. Over time the nerve pain will diminish, but that process can be slow and especially frustrating.
Most people who develop shingles have only one outbreak during their lifetime, but you can have shingles more than once.
Vaccinations are an important tool in maintaining health and readiness for all ages. The vaccine for shingles is an important vaccine. Even if you’ve already been vaccinated, ask your physician what he or she recommends.
By Ronald Wolf, Writer-Editor, Office of the Surgeon General/Medical Command
In the last issue, we included a reminder for Soldiers for Life to ask about vaccines for shingles. The vaccine is recommended for everyone over 60 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but approved by the Food and Drug Administration for those over 50.
A newer vaccine, Shingrix, is now available and is considered to be more effective and longer lasting. The CDC recommends Shingrix for shingles and related complications. Usually, two doses of Shingrix are needed with injections 2 to 6 months apart for adults aged 50 years or older.
You should consider being vaccinated with Shingrix even if you have already been vaccinated with the current vaccine Zostavax. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of Zostavax wanes over time. If you have previously had a Zostavax vaccine injection, discuss with your physician whether you should and how soon you can receive a Shingrix vaccination. You should wait at least 8 weeks after a patient received Zostavax to administer Shingrix.
One thing: check at your health care facility about availability of Shingrix. Demand is high, and some temporary shortages have been reported. To recap, shingles is a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus becomes dormant in the body and can stay dormant for decades.
During a shingles outbreak, a rash consisting of blisters forms; it usually fades away in 2 to 4 weeks. The problem with shingles is the nerve pain that may last for months after the rash goes away.
The pain can be deep and intense, and most over-the-counter pain killers have little effect. Over time the nerve pain will diminish, but that process can be slow and especially frustrating.
Most people who develop shingles have only one outbreak during their lifetime, but you can have shingles more than once.
Vaccinations are an important tool in maintaining health and readiness for all ages. The vaccine for shingles is an important vaccine. Even if you’ve already been vaccinated, ask your physician what he or she recommends.
10-18-2018, 03:09 PM
#42
Do you know how much the shots would cost if you get them in 2018 under your current retiree (?) health insurance?
I guess time is running out, though, to be able to get both shots in 2018 as the second shot is supposed to be 2 to 6 months after the first shot.
goBlue and I are still under employee health insurance, and fortunately both of the Shingrix shots for both of us were covered in full. We had no co-pay at all.
I guess time is running out, though, to be able to get both shots in 2018 as the second shot is supposed to be 2 to 6 months after the first shot.
goBlue and I are still under employee health insurance, and fortunately both of the Shingrix shots for both of us were covered in full. We had no co-pay at all.
10-18-2018, 06:29 PM
#43
Registered User
I just had a Hepatitis A shot today and my lousy drug coverage paid $24.66 and I paid $89.33. Their payment wasn't even one months premium, and that is the first time this year they have paid anything out!
10-19-2018, 03:43 AM
#44
Part D coverage can be real problematic. I feel for anyone with serious illness.
10-27-2018, 02:47 PM
#45
While at the doctor's office last week I asked about the shots. They did not have available but said they are $400 each, with the second one due in 4 to 6 months after the first. To save money they recommended getting the shots at a pharmacy because of the added administrative costs at the doctor's office.
10-27-2018, 04:00 PM
#46
Thread Starter
While at the doctor's office last week I asked about the shots. They did not have available but said they are $400 each, with the second one due in 4 to 6 months after the first. To save money they recommended getting the shots at a pharmacy because of the added administrative costs at the doctor's office.
A number of months ago, a friend of mine had the Shingrix shot at her doctor's office. I think she said that she had to pay the full cost of the shot herself, and then she was reimbursed by her Medicare Part D plan. Perhaps, that is not the case anymore. It probably pays to check with one's insurance company.
Since we are on an employer's health insurance plan, not Medicare Part D, we were allowed to get the shot at either a pharmacy or the doctor's office.
We both had our shots at our doctor's offices.
My doctor's office charged $260.00 for each shot under preventative care, plus $36.00 for the administration of the shot.
She was reimbursed by our insurance company $198.41 for each shot and $30.41 for the administration of the shot.
The rest was her write-off because of the contract she has with the health insurance company.
Neither one of us had to pay anything for either of our shots.
10-27-2018, 07:12 PM
#47
While at the doctor's office last week I asked about the shots. They did not have available but said they are $400 each, with the second one due in 4 to 6 months after the first. To save money they recommended getting the shots at a pharmacy because of the added administrative costs at the doctor's office.
10-27-2018, 08:15 PM
#48
10-28-2018, 04:58 AM
#50