topic Re: Shingrix #1- finally in Wellness

Shingrix #1- finally

gidgetgh — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:35:19 GMT

After being on the waiting list for a year and a half for the Shingrix vaccine, my husband and I have made it to the #1 and #2 positions. Shocker.

We're getting our shots at 3:00 this afternoon at CVS.

I know that in some areas it's been pretty readily available but in my area of Atlanta, not so easy to find. Waiting lists everywhere. We literally have been on the waiting list since July, 2018.

Maybe I'll buy us an extra lottery ticket on the way home.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

catter70 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:11:41 GMT

I'm in PA. and I was on the list for about 3 months. I've gotten both of them now and I'm glad as my friend has just been diagnosed with shingles. She said it's very painful and itchy with a nasty rash. Not much can be done for it either.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Krimpette — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:18:08 GMT

I gave up on my CVS and went to my local Giant Pharmacy, which seems to have Shingrix readily avaiable. Recently finished with the 2nd shot. No major issues with either shot, but for a sore arm both times.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

gidgetgh — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:21:09 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
I'm in PA. and I was on the list for about 3 months. I've gotten both of them now and I'm glad as my friend has just been diagnosed with shingles. She said it's very painful and itchy with a nasty rash. Not much can be done for it either.

@catter70 - I had shingles when I was 28. I'd really like to avoid a repeat if I can. Hideous pain. I only had one blister, at the very lowest point of my tailbone. It caused horrible pain from there, all the way up my spine into my head. No painkiller they prescribed even came close to touching that pain. I was luckier than some people though. I was good to go after 10 days, but the first 6 days were hideous.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Havarti — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:21:15 GMT

Is anyone willing to share how much you had to pay out-of-pocket for the shots? TIA

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Icegoddess — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:21:25 GMT

I think there are shortages of some type everywhere and that's because not only do they recommend it at a much younger age, but they also recommend everybody who already got the earlier version to get it too. I think they should've first gone after the already vaccinated people first and then expand to the younger ones.

I got mine this summer. I'm one of the younger ones and was surprised when my doctor recommended it to me since I'm only 61. I also was't really sure if I needed it since I'm not sure if I had the Chicken Pox as a child or not. My sister got a terrible case of them, but I ended up with one little scab on my scalp. I'm not sure if it was actually the virus or just my attempt to stay home from school (which worked). I always worried about it, especially when my daughter came down with them, but I didn't catch them from her either.

BTW, my 2nd dose was a lot worse than my first. The first dose made my arm hurt, could barely lift it for a day. The 2nd dose made me feel feverish and just downright yucky, but I was fine by the next morning.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

gidgetgh — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:22:31 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Is anyone willing to share how much you had to pay out-of-pocket for the shots? TIA

@Havarti I'll let you know when we get home!

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Icegoddess — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:23:54 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Is anyone willing to share how much you had to pay out-of-pocket for the shots? TIA

@Havarti I didn't have to pay anything for it, but I think I read on these boards that if you're on Medicare it's in the $50 to $80 range.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Krimpette — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:29:22 GMT

@Havarti At my Giant Pharmacy, the cost seems to depend on what insurance you have. I paid $61 for the 1st shot and $69 for the 2nd. My friend has a low-end drug plan, so she had to pay something around $100. However, she had previously been quoted over $200.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Havarti — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:29:54 GMT

@Icegoddess

I think it runs more like $300 ($150 per shot) on Medicare. It makes no sense to me that younger people on regular insurance pay nothing for it and older people on a limited fixed income - who are more likely to get shingles - are charged so much. Medicare covers pneumonia shots, but not shingles. Makes no logical sense to me.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

ChouChou — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:31:44 GMT

@Havarti wrote:
Is anyone willing to share how much you had to pay out-of-pocket for the shots? TIA

I think that the cost depends on your insurance. My DH and I have Kaiser/Medicare. We got it at no charge. My neighbor has Blue Cross/Blue Shield through his employer and he had to pay $10.

I would check with whatever pharmacy or physician/clinic you use.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Krimpette — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:32:32 GMT

@Havarti I forgot to mention that I am on Medicare. And my previous post shows what I paid.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

catter70 — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:41:26 GMT

I'm not positive, but I think I paid $56.00 out of pocket. I'm on Medicare.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

SilleeMee — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 19:41:51 GMT

I'm not on Medicare but my private insurance paid for 100% of the shots #1 and #2.

Re@: Shingrix #1- finally

patbz — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:10:17 GMT

@Havarti : In Arizona if you are,at least 65, the shots are free and don't require a prescription. DH and I were on the waiting list for over 9 mths and they never called us. One day we were at pharmacy and they had them and we got first shot. One month later they sent an email that we could get second shot. As we had intended to get flu shot that day, after checking (about two shots same day) we got a shot in each arm. Next day we were pretty sore (I was bruised on shingles arm and DH had a minor rash) but no big deal. I've had a mild case of Shingles shortly before retiring and I don't want to go through that again.

Re: Re@: Shingrix #1- finally

alicedee — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:09:38 GMT

I just checked...my HAP Medicare Advantage Plan covers both Shingrix vaccines once in a lifetime.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

gidgetgh — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:33:14 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
@Havarti wrote:
Is anyone willing to share how much you had to pay out-of-pocket for the shots? TIA

@Havarti I'll let you know when we get home!

@Havarti Anthem/Blue Cross paid 100% for mine today.

My husband, who is on Medicare with a Blue Cross Plan F supplement, had to pay $31.25.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

mrssweetiebear — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 21:41:25 GMT

I got on the waiting list at my local Longs/CVS this past January. In September I got a call that my first dose was available. I had a sore arm the next day. Slightly more so than the soreness from the flu shot the following month. They told me I would be notified between 2 and 4 months when they received more vaccine for the second and final in the series. I was glad it came in a week prior to Thanksgiving as I thought I might have a bit of a reaction to the second dose. My husband had his last year and felt fine after the first but sick after the shot no. 2. I felt blah and had flue-y type aches the next day but the soreness in my arm was pretty bad for 5 or 6 days.

Cost wise it was high for me as Medicare does not cover it with only Part A and B. I don't have prescription coverage or any supplemental so it was $168.00 x 2. But I consider it well worth to keep from going through Shingles like my mom, a brother-in-law and a couple friends. I've seen and heard the horror stories. My dh got his through the VA and so was much less.

We do have one friend who did still get a light case of it on his face even with getting both vaccines. I imagine it would have been much worse if he didn't get those shots.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

ahoymate — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 22:41:54 GMT

Shingrix is an expensive vaccine. If you have Medicare part D, you pay half. For those that don't, the cost is between $200 & 300.00.

Re: Shingrix #1- finally

Another new name Sue — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 23:16:24 GMT

I've had both shots. As shots go, it's a little more painful than the flu shot for some reason, and I had more of a reaction to the second than the first, just felt not very good for about 1 day. Glad that's behind me.