Health Q & A with Jeannie Marr

Q: I hear that there is a new shingles shot that has come out. Does Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy carry it and am I eligible to get it?
Answer: Yes, we do carry Shingrix. It’s a new shingles vaccine that is 97 percent effective. Stop by any time during business hours at 175 E. Oregon Ave. to either get the vaccine or ask questions of one of our pharmacists. Here is some detailed information about the vaccine from the CDC. It is in short supply but we currently have a lot in stock. It won’t last long so if you are 50 years old or older and have been advised by your doctor to get it, then hurry on in. We would be happy to help you out!
Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles. CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix®, separated by two to six months, to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.
Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Two doses of Shingrix is more than 90 percent effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Protection stays above 85 percent for at least the first four years after you get vaccinated. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax, a shingles vaccine in use since 2006.
Q: How Well Does Shingrix Work?
Answer: Two doses of Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles. In adults 50 to 69 years old who got two doses, Shingrix was 97 percent effective in preventing shingles; among adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 91 percent effective. In adults 50 to 69 years old who got two doses, Shingrix was 91 percent effective in preventing PHN; among adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 89 percent effective.
Q: Who Should, Should Not Get Shingrix?
Answer: Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you have had shingles, received Zostavax or if you are not sure if you had chickenpox.Shingrix reduces the risk of shingles and PHN by more than 90 percent in people 50 and older.
There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix. If you had shingles in the past, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.
You can get Shingrix whether or not you remember having had chickenpox in the past. Studies show that more than 99 percent of Americans 40 years and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having the disease. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles. If you had Zostavax in the recent past, you should wait at least eight weeks before getting Shingrix.
The side effects of the Shingrix are temporary, and usually last two to three days. While you may experience pain for a few days after getting Shingrix, the pain will be less severe than having shingles and the complications from the disease.
You should not get Shingrix if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix; tested negative for immunity to varicella zoster virus. If you test negative, you should get chickenpox vaccine; currently have shingles; or are currently are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get Shingrix.
If you have a minor acute (starts suddenly) illness, such as a cold, you may get Shingrix. But if you have a moderate or severe acute illness, you should usually wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3 degrees or higher.