Shingles is a painful localized skin rash often with blisters that is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.   After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus can enter your nervous system and lie hidden for years. Eventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin – producing shingles. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a band of blisters that wraps around one side of your face or trunk. It causes pain, itching, burning, numbness or tingling of the skin and can include fever, headache, chills, upset stomach and fatigue. 

 

While shingles is not life-threatening, it can be very painful. In addition, it can lead to a severe condition called post-herpetic neuralgia which can last for months or even years. About one in three people in America will develop shingles during their lifetime. It is most common in adults 50 years of age and older and in people with a weakened immune system.

 

Although shingles cannot be passed from one person to another, a person who has never had chickenpox (or the chickenpox vaccine) could get chickenpox from someone with an active case of shingles.

 

The only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and the long-term pain that can follow is to get vaccinated. According to the CDC, a single does of the shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 60 years of age and older. Although the vaccine does not guarantee you won’t ever get shingles, it will reduce the course and severity of the disease and reduce your risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

 

Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for the shingles vaccine and its administration. Other insurance plans may have a similar benefit. Call our pharmacy to inquire about your plan. We will work with you to help determine your cost.

 

Shingles vaccine may be administered by our certified pharmacists when you have a valid prescription order from your doctor. Ask our staff for assistance.

 

To learn more about this disease and the shingles vaccine, please contact Travis Holshouser or Jennifer Church.