That's great news! I've had both shots, but that will definitely help others who haven't.

Good to hear! I haven't had mine. I had the first one years ago, before they decided the 2 dose was better.

Insulin will be better priced as well!

My shingles vaccinations were free. I thought they were to everyone after the age of 65.

Hi, Rhizo! Perhaps your Part D deductible was fulfilled, and that's why the shingles shots were free. I think it all depends on that.

I’m new to Medicare, and I’m confused about something. Does this apply only to drugs that are in the formulary?

Bpath, I don't know what the formulary is, so I'm no help. But if you call your pharmacy, they can tell you how much, if anything, you'd have to pay for the vaccine. Or perhaps someone else reading this thread can answer your question.

I didn't realize there was such a varied cost. My insurance covers both shots no

deductible involved and Medicare doesn't enter into it. And, it is recommended

that you get them before you are eligible for Medicare anyway. Having to pay

that much sure doesn't seem right. Glad you got them though. A miserable, miserable disease.

Many people will have gotten the shingles vaccine well before Medicare age since it is recommended for 50 years and over. Perhaps that age recommendation is newish-- can you tell me?

I hope no one who, though lacking insurance coverage could otherwise have been able to afford the Shingrix series by reallocating spending for a few months, chose to delay getting them because of the cost. I suspect most people who knew anyone who had suffered from shingles appreciated the importance of getting the predecessor Zostavax and the new and improved Shingrix at their first opportunity.

I had the original one-shot shingles vaccine, but got shingles anyway. It wasn't too severe, although I still have remnants of it, in eye pain and itchy eyebrow space. When the two-shot vaccine came out, I got it but had to pay $500 for it.

I had one shot awhile back, but for various reasons, never had the second. I wonder if I have to start over with two? ill ask my doctor when I see her.

You don't have to restart the series, just get the second dose as soon as possible. My brother missed his second shot and that's what his internist told him. So I checked the CDC and they say the same thing.

Q: What should I do if a patient waits longer than 6 months to get the second dose?

A: You should give the second dose as soon as possible. However, you do not need to restart the vaccine series.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/faqs.html

Dedtired, this is from the CDC website:

Healthcare providers and eligible patients should make every effort to ensure that two doses of Shingrix are administered within the recommended interval of 2 to 6 months. If more than 6 months have elapsed since the first dose, administer the second dose as soon as possible. Do not restart the vaccine series.

You can also ask a pharmacist. There are standard objective protocols and

recommended timing for the two injections. You might be able to look it up online.

I had to cancel my scheduled shingles shot for tomorrow because Lyme disease symptoms are coming on strong following three insect bites on my back. By the time I was aware of them no ticks were visible, but the symptoms are unmistakable.

@Dedtired, when the pharmacist advised me to cancel the shingles shot I said I might end up going past the 6-month deadline. She said not to worry about it. She mentioned the CDC's advise that I posted above, and she added that because of supply issues at one point many people went way beyond the 6-month deadline.

@Alisande..Thanks for the Medicare link. My husband will be turning 65, in the next 6 months & their rules are ALL new to me.

Nicole, Medicare can seem so confusing at first, mostly because there are so many options. But there's really only a few:

(1) Choose to get a supplement (like the one I have) that pays for any Medicare-approved charges over and above what Medicare will pay. Or . . .

(2) Choose to get an "advantage plan" supplement that can be cheaper but require co-pays, etc. Or . . .

(3) Choose to ignore both of the above and just stick with the basic Medicare. (I don't know anyone who has done this.) In addition . . .

(4) Medicare Part D, the drug plan, is required. If you opt not to sign up for one in the beginning you will pay through the nose if you find you need one down the road.

The thing is, within choices 1, 2, and 4 there are many, many options. The Medicare website actually makes it fairly easy to pick the best ones for you.

I think you'll find the KT is a good resource for information too!

I made sure to get both my Shingles shots while I was still on my husband's former employer's insurance which paid 100% of the cost.