Shingles Vaccine
in Maryland

The shingles vaccination can lower your chances of developing shingles and its complications, such as long-term nerve pain. Knowing more about this vaccine and what it can do will assist you in making informed health decisions for yourself and your family.

About the shingles

The varicella-zoster virus causes shingles, which is a painful, blistering skin rash. The varicella-zoster virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

After you've had chickenpox, your body becomes dormant. The chickenpox virus can cause shingles if it reactivates, which normally happens several years later, according to the National Library of Medicine.

According to the National Library of Medicine, those aged 60 and up who had chickenpox before the age of 12 months are at the greatest risk of acquiring shingles. If your immune system has been impaired by sickness or drugs, you may be at greater risk for shingles.

Shingles Symptoms

The major symptom of shingles, according to the National Library of Medicine, is a painful skin rash that starts on the spine and wraps around to the front of the chest or abdomen. According to the National Library of Medicine, some persons may get rashes around their eyes, lips, and ears.

According to the National Library of Medicine, discomfort, tingling, and burning on one side of the body are common symptoms before rashes form. These feelings are followed by red skin patches and little blisters, which burst open to form small, dry, crusty sores. Shingles sores normally come off in two to three weeks and do not leave scars.

According to the National Library of Medicine, other shingles symptoms include:

• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Malaise
• Joint pain
• Muscle weakness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Drooping eyelid
• Hearing loss
• Vision problems
• Taste problems

How to contract it

After you've had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus reactivates in your body, causing shingles. You cannot catch shingles from someone else who has it, according to the CDC. You can, however, catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles, increasing your chances of having shingles later.

No one knows why the varicella-zoster virus unexpectedly becomes active again years later, according to the National Library of Medicine. Many people who had mild bouts of chickenpox are unaware they ever got the virus in the first place, according to the report.

What vaccines can help prevent shingles?

Shingles can be prevented with two doses of the Shingrix shingles vaccine. According to the CDC, the Shingrix vaccine can also lower your risk of shingles complications. This shingles shot is given in the upper arm and is more than 90% efficient in preventing shingles in persons 50 years and older with a healthy immune system, according to the company.

Should I get the shingles vaccine?

The shingles vaccination is recommended by the CDC for people 50 years and older, as well as those 19 years and older, who have impaired immune systems owing to disease or pharmaceutical therapy. It also advises getting the shingles vaccine if you've already had shingles and/or chickenpox, as well as if you've had another shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is no longer available in the US.

What are the side effects?

According to the CDC, the shingles vaccine may cause transient adverse effects that interfere with your ability to do routine everyday activities for two to three days.

The following are some of the possible shingles vaccine side effects:

• Sore arm with mild to moderate pain
• Redness and swelling at the injection site
• Tiredness
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Fever and chills
• Stomach pain
• Nausea

Side effects are more likely in younger people, according to the CDC, and you may have a reaction to the shingles injection after both doses. If you have side effects after the shingles vaccine, it recommends taking over-the-counter pain relievers such ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is another possible side effect of the shingles vaccine, according to the CDC (GBS). According to the National Library of Medicine, GBS is an uncommon but deadly disorder in which your immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, which regulates the nerves in your brain and spinal cord.

Can I get a shingles vaccine if I’m younger than 50?

According to the CDC, if you are under 50 years old and have a weakened immune system due to disease or medications used to treat a disease, you should only get the shingles vaccine if you are at least 19 years old and have a weakened immune system due to disease or medications used to treat a disease. If you have any concerns, go to your health care provider.

Will Medicare or my health insurance pay for a shingles vaccine?

According to Medicare.gov, the shingles vaccine is covered by most Medicare prescription medication plans, such as Part D, but not by Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Depending on the type of policy you have, your health insurance plan may or may not cover the shingles vaccine. Check with Medicare or your health insurance provider to see if the shingles vaccination is covered under your plan.