Georgia Coastal Health District

March 25, 2014 – Shingles, which is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, is an infection that can cause a very painful rash and about half of all cases occur in people over 60. The only way to lower the risk of getting shingles and the pain that’s associated with it is to get vaccinated. The Bryan County Health Department currently has shingles vaccine available for those 60 and older.
The Bryan County Health Department can directly bill Medicare Part D for eligible clients. The shingles vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the shingles rash, a painful skin rash that can cause blisters, fever, headache, and even result in nerve pain or damage. The best way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated.
Clients with Medicare part D will only have to pay their individual cost share, a significant discount from the full price of the vaccine. Clients with other insurance coverage are encouraged to contact the health department to determine if their health insurance can be billed directly. The full cost of the vaccine is $182 for clients who pay out of pocket.
About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster. Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body in an inactive state. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later causing a painful outbreak of shingles. Anyone who has had the chickenpox can develop shingles; however, the risk of getting the disease increases as a person gets older.
For more information on getting vaccinated, contact your local health department. For more information on shingles or the shingles vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html.