Each year, approximately 1 million people in the United States develop shingles, a painful skin rash that affects older adults, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The herpes zoster, or shingles, vaccine can be administered to patients over age 60 to help reduce the risk of developing this infection. Patients should be aware of the cons of the shingles vaccine prior to having this immunization.
Side Effects
Uncomfortable side effects can arise in certain patients following treatment with the shingles vaccine. The most common side effect is a skin reaction at the injection site, which affects nearly one-third of treated patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. The skin at the injection site can appear unusually red or swollen and may be itchy or tender to the touch. Headache pain may also occur as a side effect of this immunization in approximately one in every 70 people, the CDC explains. These cons of the shingles vaccine are temporary and typically subside within a few hours or days of treatment. Patients who experience a severe, persistent skin reaction or develop a high fever or breathing difficulties should seek immediate medical care. These severe side effects of the shingles vaccine can be indicative of an allergic reaction to this immunization.
Treatment Population
Because the herpes zoster vaccine is only indicated for patients over the age of 60, many younger patients do not have access to this method of shingles prevention. This limited treatment population is one of the cons of the shingles vaccine because approximately one in seven shingles cases occur in people between the ages of 50 and 59, according to Jane Brody in an October 2007 article published in "The New York Times." The shingles vaccine should also not be used to immunize patients who have certain types of medical conditions, such as lymphoma, leukemia or AIDS. Patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation or high-dose steroids typically have weakened immune systems and also should not receive this vaccine due to an increased risk of side effects, the CDC reports.
Insurance Coverage
Though Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for the shingles vaccine, Medicare Part B plans do not as of May 2009, the CDC warns. This vaccine may also not be covered by certain private insurance plans. Without insurance coverage, patients in the United States may pay up to $300 to receive this preventive treatment, Brody reports.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Herpes Zoster Vaccine: Is the Shingles Vaccine Covered by Insurance?
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: Shingles
- "The New York Times"; The Pros and Cons of the Shingles Vaccine; Jane E. Brody; October 2007
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Zostavax (Herpes Zoster Vaccine): Questions and Answers
