Shingrix, The New Shingles Vaccine is Here!

Written by Kim DeMagistris, PharmD, RPh Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarkets You may have heard about the shingles vaccine and wondered, “Should I get this new vaccine?” or “Do I need the new vaccine if I already received Zostavax?” Shingles is a painful rash that develops in about 30% of people. As we get older our immune systems don’t work as well and because we have been exposed to chickenpox as kids, the virus is already inside us waiting to erupt as Shingles! The shingles rash usually presents with blisters and can be painful and itchy. Sometimes the rash will go away after a couple of weeks but some patients have lingering pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia. Other complications of Shingles can include blindness1. Shingrix is now recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for patients 50 and older. Most patients born before 1968 will be eligible for this vaccine and if you have had Zostavax then you will need to be revaccinated with Shingrix! Shingrix is more effective than Zostavax and we now know that Zostavax boosts your immunity for only about five years. That means that after five years of receiving Zostavax, you may no longer be protected.2 It is easy to be vaccinated! Just speak with your local Price Chopper/Market 32 Pharmacist for more information. Shingrix is given as a two dose series, which means you will get a second shot about two months after the first. When patients receive both doses of Shingrix, the vaccine is about 97% effective.3 Get vaccinated today! Click to see where the vaccine is offered. You can also learn more about all our Pharmacy+ services here. For more information about shingles and the Shingrix vaccine, check out the information below from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html   References:
  1. Immunization Action Coalition. Shingles (zoster): questions and answers. Information about the disease and vaccine. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4221.pdf. (Accessed October 29, 2017).
  2. Clinical Resource,Shingles Vaccine: FAQs. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. December 2017.
  3. Product information for Shingrix. GlaxoSmithKline. Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. October 2017.

By: Kimberly Houser, PharmD, RPh

Did you know that one in three people will experience Shingles in their lifetime?1  Most people can think of a family member or close friend that has had a firsthand experience with the painful rash, blisters, and maybe even the associated complications. Shingles tends to develop as a person ages and is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).2 This is the virus that causes chickenpox.  It lays dormant in the body and may re-erupt as shingles later in life.  The bottom line is if you were born before the year 1980,VZV is considered to already be inside your body, even if you have never had chickenpox3! So what can you do to prevent Shingles?  Get vaccinated!  There is a vaccine that is FDA approved for individuals aged 50 and older to help prevent Shingles called Zostavax.  This vaccine is now available at all Price Chopper Pharmacies and is covered by most Medicare Part D plans. Ask your Pharmacist today for details! References
  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2012 November  02]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html
  2. PubMed Health. Shingles [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2012 November  02]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001861/
  3. Immunization Action Coalition. Ask the Experts- Zoster [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2012 November  02]. Available from: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_zos.asp