Just when you thought you were safe from shingles, think again.
If you're over 50 and had chickenpox as a kid, the herpes zoster virus is lurking in your nerves. As you age, your immune system weakens, making you vulnerable for the virus to pop up as painful shingles blisters.
Rustan Sharer, MD, internal medicine, HonorHealth Medical Group, offers advice about a new vaccine recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Q: I got a shingles shot a few years ago. Doesn't it protect me?
A: If you got the zoster vaccine (live) after its introduction in 2006, you reduced your risk of developing shingles by 51%, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, after five years, the vaccine wears off. The CDC recommends that you get the new zoster vaccine (inactivated) in two doses, at least eight weeks apart, if you're 50 or older, whether or not you remember having had chickenpox.
Q: I've already had shingles. Can I get it again?
A: Yes, you can. If you had it recently, make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before you get the vaccine.
Q: Is shingles so bad?
A: It can be pretty painful. One in five people with shingles develops post-herpetic neuralgia — nerve pain that continues for months or years. It's wise to avoid it. The CDC says 1 million Americans a year get it.
Q: Does the new vaccine have any side effects?
A: It has the potential for side effects, but they appear to be minor. The vaccine may cause pain during injection and at the injection site for up to three days. Headache, shivering, fever and an upset stomach are possible but less likely.
Q: Will my insurance cover the cost of two shots?
A: You should call your insurance company ahead of time to make sure.