My doctor convinced me to get one so I did in December. I was told it would cost me 20% of the $170 for the vaccine, and my $25 deductible. It ended up that I paid zilch/zero. That suited me fine. I love free.

I had to order the vaccine. I did that in mid Sep and it didn't come in till mid Dec.

Shirley

No, I'm avoiding it. I really don't know if this is a good decision or not. I'm at risk for shingles, but I have a history of reacting badly to things. Plus the vaccine is relatively new.

BTW, in the days when I got flu shots, I always got them for free at the Health Department. Ditto tetanus shots. It's not a matter of income level; the shots are free for everyone. All you have to do is ask.

Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon for this shot but keep in mind that very few people are at risk for getting shingles. Some people do not understand what shingles is.

I am at risk for shingles since I have had chicken pox, but I am not going to get the vaccine, with it's associated risks, unless I have an outbreak.

No, I haven't and thinking I won't.

DH is getting the shingles shot. Having shingles is
very painful.

Got mine from my doctor. Paid $125. I never knew about getting shots from the health department. As a kid, I had several types of measles (remember the kind where they confined you to a dark room for a week or so), whooping cough, mumps (twice--once on each side) and chicken pox. I think I can do without shingles.

I want to get it because I am high risk for shingles. But, I have just turned 50 and can't.
I have went to the health department for tetanus but I had to pay for it. No shots are free unless you are 18 or younger. Of course if you are on welfare you can get all the shots free. I had to go to the health department to get my daughters shot for meningitis before she went off for college....she was 17 and got it free along with a tetanus.

What are the side effects of it? I can't imagine having shingles! I have Ramsey Hunt symdrome in my mouth of all places. The Doctor told me it is like shingels...only in the mouth. It is the most painful thing when I have flare up, I really can't even eat! Perhaps the shingles vaccine would help the pain in my mouth.

Deb

What is the age recommendation for this shot? I am going on 50. I never knew what shingles was until someone at my work got it. Wow, nasty patches all over her skin! I can't speak to the pain, but it looked just awful.

My oncologist told me their isn't enough data to support having a shot at this time...and that taking Acylovir when I start feeling an outbreak is a sure thing. So I didn't get one.
I get outbreaks a few times a year...knowing the symptoms has been key! And taking my meds right away staves off a full blown outbreak.

I'm on Valtrax for my mouth so perhaps this will help with any shingles outbreak. I really, really don't want to have shingles.

Deb

I had it a couple of years ago.My dr recommended it and since i was in my late 60's i went ahead and got it.Cost me 220.00,but my insurance reimbursed me 100%.
3 of my sisters had shingles,and told me how painful they were,so i opted for the shot.One sister had them on one side of her face,head,and into her eye.No thanks,i didn't want them.
Kathi

My doc stays informed and if he recommends it that's good enough for me. I've known people w/ shingles and not only is it painful, it takes a while to get over. Oh yeah, I'll be there Thurs. I've never gotten a shot at our health dept. Never even thought about it until I heard about this. DH did carry one of the grands down there to get a flu shot. I figure as a tax payer I support it, so I'll reap some benefits!

Two dr's advised against them because of DH's cancer and other problems and also for me not to get it because I am a care taker. Also age is a factor.

60 is the recommended age, I think.
I think most or at least a lot of us that age had chicken pox in our lives at some point.
JoanMN/FL

I got mine a couple of years ago. My doctor was happy I got it. My mom had shingles and was miserable for a couple of months.

I got the shot last year, thank goodness my insurance comnpany paid for it!

Our doctor friends recommended that Woody get one. He's going to ask his doctor about it next month. We were at the beach having cocktails when they mentioned it, and it was so funny. He slurred his speech and said "Bartender, schet me up, I need a schingle schot." We just died laughing.

Several people I knew have gotten shingles in the last couple of years and only wish they had gotten the vaccine, they were miserable for months, incredible pain. I have no desire to go thru that myself, or to have a loved one get it, either. I'll ask my doctor when I should get one, too.

I had a mild case of shingles. I woke up, went to brush my teeth and looked in the mirror. It looked like a spider had bitten the right side of my forehead several times. Went to the MD, who diagnosed shingles. I was also sent to the eye docotor to make sure the shingles had not affected my right eye.

If you catch it right away (within 72 hours) and get medication, it can be OK. It's the same meds they give to people who have herpes outbreaks.

I needed to stay away from children for a couple weeks, as I could have given them chicken pox, but it wasn't very uncomfortable and the redness was gone in a month.

When they came out with the vaccine I'd just had this episode and MD said to wait. He hasn't recommended I get the shot. You can't take the shot while you HAVE shingles, and you have to get the shot every year as I understand it. I don't believe the cost is covered by Medicare.

I had an exceptionally bad case of chicken pox at about age seven I was unable to walk for several days and still have a dime-size scar on the side of one knee.

Nobody wants shingles! It can be painful and long-lasting; some people have outbreaks that last for many months. The skin can be painful just having a breeze pass over it.

I got one in September at my doctor's suggestion. It was over $200, but Medicare & my supplementary insurance paid for it.

Posted by chisue: "You have to get the shot every year as I understand it. "

No.

No, that is not true.

The vaccine is meant to last a lifetime. It is recommended for those over sixty. At this point in time Mereck does not even offer booster shots and booster shots would not be given every year anyway, but rather every ten years or so.

Do keep in mind that this new shingles vaccine is only fifty percent effective so it is really the 'roll of the dice' on whether is is going to work for you or not.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zostavax

My dearest friend Esther, who is 75, got shingles last November. She said it was an excruciating pain. It was at chest level and she couldn't wear a bra for several weeks. Any clothing hurt, and she never realized how often people hugged her until she hit the ceiling with pain each time someone did.

Before the shingles, Esther had been suffering from severe sciatica pain and had finally found someone who was able to make the pain go away by manipulating her lower back by using traction and chiropractics. She was in heaven, she was so happy she called me up said let's go shopping, let's walk, let's play tennis. She was so, so happy the pain was gone ... and then boom! she had shingles. She firmly believes the shingles virus, which lies in wait at the base of the spine, was awakened by the manipulations and now prefers to resume the heavy drugs she was taking for the sciatic pain instead of continuing the traction which left her pain free.

Esther made me promise I would ask my doctor about it the shingles shot, but my doctor told me I have to be 60 before I can get it (I'm 55). I will get it when I can. Esther was given the shot a couple weeks ago after the last traces of pain and sensitivity was gone.

Jodi-

I had the shot two years ago, recommended and given by my doctor. I had absolutely no reaction to it, and my insurance covered it 100%.