Shingles - Worth the vaccination?

[GarryP]

There are numerous articles/reports/studies about the covid vaccines reactivating herpes (The National Library of Medicine (an official US gov't site), Oxford Academic and Science Direct websites among many, many others), so it would be interesting to learn whether there appears to be any correlation between the time of covid vaccination and the reactivation of herpes in the posters cases.

 

Having said that, I have nothing against shingles vaccines, and having previously had chicken pox I will give it some thought, as it is often a very uncomfortable/painful experience which I wish to avoid.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The following report summarizing research on the topic says COVID the illness has been clearly shown to raise the risks of developing shingles, especially in older people and those with weakened immune systems.

 

But it says the reports about developing shingles post vaccination are less clear as to whether the vaccine caused it or was merely coincidental.

 

COVID-19 and Shingles: What’s the Connection?

"People who are over 50 years old or have a weakened immune system are likely at higher risk of developing shingles during a COVID-19 illness."

...

"Another very large study found that people older than 50 were 15% more likely to develop shingles if they had COVID illness when compared to people of the same age who didn’t get COVID illness. "

 

VS

 

"The COVID vaccine does not cause shingles — only the varicella zoster virus causes shingles. But it’s not clear if COVID vaccines can trigger shingles to develop.

 

There have been reports of people developing shingles after COVID vaccination. But it’s unclear if these cases are just coincidence or if shingles is a real possible side effect of the COVID vaccine."

 

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/covid-19/covid-and-shingles

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

This following report also presents similar findings, clear increased risk of shingles from COVID, mixed findings on the issue of COVID vaccines:

 

Can a COVID-19 Vaccine Increase Your Risk of Shingles?

Updated on February 1, 2024

 

...

"In a 2021 research review, experts examined reports of people getting shingles after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. They found that many people who got shingles after their vaccine had existing factors that can increase the likelihood of developing shingles. These factors include older adulthood, immunological disorders, and cancer.

...

The research into this topic can be conflicting as well. Let’s take a look at two different studies.

 

Increased risk of shingles after COVID-19 vaccination

....

No increased risk of shingles after COVID-19 vaccination

https://www.healthline.com/health/covid-vaccine-herpes#covid-19-and-shingles

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 9/17/2024 at 3:59 PM, DrPhibes said:

Head back to the US in Jan - April so will get the two Shingrix shots for free under Medicare.  My mom had it, was crazy bad for her.

 

I was just checking about that the other day, as a brand new Medicare enrollee....

 

From what I saw on the Medicare and AARP websites, the Shingles vaccine is only covered under Medicare Part D (drug) plans or their equivalent....

 

It appears to NOT be covered under the more common but optional Part B medical care / outpatient  coverage, where lots of other vaccines are covered including for flu and COVID.

 

So to have the Shingles vaccine covered under Medicare, you appear to need to have Part D drug coverage or its equivalent under an optional Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan.

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/what-vaccines-does-medicare-cover/

 

What vaccines does Medicare Part D cover?

Unless Part B covers a vaccine, Part D plan formularies usually cover all commercially available inoculations to prevent illness. These include:

...

Shingles. The CDC recommends that everyone 50 or older get the shingles vaccine. It recommends two doses of Shingrix spaced two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S."

 

 

[Sheryl]

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I was just checking about that the other day, as a brand new Medicare enrollee....

 

From what I saw on the Medicare and AARP websites, the Shingles vaccine is only covered under Medicare Part D (drug) plans or their equivalent....

 

It appears to NOT be covered under the more common but optional Part B medical care / outpatient  coverage, where lots of other vaccines are covered including for flu and COVID.

 

So to have the Shingles vaccine covered under Medicare, you appear to need to have Part D drug coverage or its equivalent under an optional Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan.

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/what-vaccines-does-medicare-cover/

 

 

 

This is accurate.

 

I had to pay full price for it as I do not have Part D. (Well a tad under full price, using GoodRx coupon). 

[DrPhibes]

6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I was just checking about that the other day, as a brand new Medicare enrollee....

 

From what I saw on the Medicare and AARP websites, the Shingles vaccine is only covered under Medicare Part D (drug) plans or their equivalent....

 

It appears to NOT be covered under the more common but optional Part B medical care / outpatient  coverage, where lots of other vaccines are covered including for flu and COVID.

 

So to have the Shingles vaccine covered under Medicare, you appear to need to have Part D drug coverage or its equivalent under an optional Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan.

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/what-vaccines-does-medicare-cover/

 

What vaccines does Medicare Part D cover?

Unless Part B covers a vaccine, Part D plan formularies usually cover all commercially available inoculations to prevent illness. These include:

...

Shingles. The CDC recommends that everyone 50 or older get the shingles vaccine. It recommends two doses of Shingrix spaced two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S."

 

 

Yup,

 

Have Part D 😉

[GarryP]

Speak of the devil, but within 4 days of my last post, my mother-in-law came down with shingles. She was feeling unwell and had a bit of a fever when painfull sores/blisters appeared on the upper part of one of her thighs. I took her word for it and did not request to see them.  She went to the local hospital and was prescribed acyclovir, but she's also doing other traditional/superstitious activities to get over it. I just keep my mouth shut about those activities. If they make her feel better/happier, who am I to judge.  

[Lorry]

On 9/17/2024 at 2:22 PM, LarryLEB said:

I had the Shingrix vaccine done at Jomtien Hospital.  I paid 13,490 Baht.  That was the price in December 2023.

Same price, 13,500 (for 2 shots), at Sukumvit Hospital, right now.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 9/17/2024 at 6:37 PM, nahkit said:

No change, it's Herpes Zoster, so at that point I engage Mr Google and see that it's actually shingles.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or slap the doctor for telling me I had herpes.

Maybe time to slap yourself. 

 

On 9/17/2024 at 11:23 PM, Lorry said:

Herpes Zoster is the usual name all over the world. 

Only native speakers of English say "shingles" in colloquial speech (doctors would say herpes zoster)

Could it be your Thai doctor was not a native speaker of English?

 

[Digitalbanana]

30 minutes ago, Lorry said:

On 9/17/2024 at 2:22 PM, LarryLEB said:

I had the Shingrix vaccine done at Jomtien Hospital.  I paid 13,490 Baht.  That was the price in December 2023.

Same price, 13,500 (for 2 shots), at Sukumvit Hospital, right now.

 

MedConsult on Sukhumvit 49 was doing them for 5590THB per shot earlier this year.