Wellness

[gidgetgh]

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. 

[catter70]

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.

[Krimpette]

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.

[gidgetgh]

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@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.

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@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. 

[Havarti]

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

[Icegoddess]

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.

[gidgetgh]

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@Havarti wrote:

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

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

[Icegoddess]

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@Havarti wrote:

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

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@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.

[Krimpette]

@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.

[Havarti]

@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.