Shingles vaccine

[reefduffer]

For the subset of GODs age 60 and over, the CDC now recommends that all of us get vaccinated for shingles. CDC Press Release - May 15, 2008

I got mine recently. Cost a little over $200. Here in Socal I found the best prices at supermarket pharmacies. I had no noticable side effects.

I have only second-hand experience (mother in law) but I've heard shingles is really unpleasant and debilitating, and the vaccine is supposed to be 50% or more effective. That's a good cost/benefit IMO. I was also told the recommended age may be lowered in future.

I did a search on Scubaboard and found mention of shingles and agreements about what a PITA it is, but no mention of the vaccine. So ... check it out.

 

[robint]

yup, I had shingles years ago while pregnant at age 32. It was horrible as I couldn't take any pain killers for it. It lasted about a month. A gentleman I know here in town (age 70+) got it last year and ended up incapacitated for over 2 months, unable to do much, and in hospital for part of that. He was very very sick.
That was the first time I had heard of a new vaccine for it.

 

[DandyDon]

Wow?! What a list of possible vaccines: Vaccines: VPD-VAC/VPD menu page I think I can skip some of those...

I just had a chat with my county health, where I prefer to get vaccines...

• Hepatitis A: Did it, good for life.
• Hepatitis B: Did it, good for life.
• Influenza (Flu): Every November
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella: They're not recommending or suppling?
• Pneumococcal: Every 10 years: $40
• Shingles (Herpes Zoster) over 60: $20 if you don't have insurance that would pay for it vs $280 at a supermarket here
• Tetanus (Lockjaw): Every 7-10 years

To skip, for me anyway...
Anthrax, Cervical Cancer, Diphtheria, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Lyme Disease, Meningococcal, Monkeypox, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Poliomyelitis (Polio), Rabies, Rotavirus, Smallpox, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Varicella (Chickenpox), Yellow Fever

 

[drl]

DandyDon,
if I remember right, they don't recommend the MMR for people over a certain age because if you were born before 1957 you are assumed to either have had those diseases or at least to have been exposed to them, and likely immune.
I was born in 1957, so the University made me get it anyway, or spend big bucks on a titer to prove immunity. The vaccine was cheaper!

 

[DandyDon]

Ok, that makes sense. I remember the mumps at least. I thot I'd read something recently about seniors and MMR, but maybe not. Still trying to embrace that title: senior. I've been using it for discounts for some time, but not for health care.