Shingles is an infection that can cause a painful rash, and about half of all cases occur in people older than 60.
The only way to lower the risk of getting shingles, and the pain that’s associated with it, is to get vaccinated.
The Bryan County Health Department currently has shingles vaccine available for those 60 and older. The Bryan County Health Department can directly bill Medicare Part D for eligible clients.
The shingles vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the shingles rash, a painful skin rash that can cause blisters, fever, headaches and even result in nerve pain or damage.
Clients with Medicare part D will have to pay only their individual cost share.
Clients with other insurance coverage are encouraged to contact the health department to determine if their health insurance can be billed directly.
The full cost of the vaccine is $182 for clients who pay out of pocket.  
About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster.
Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body in an inactive state.
For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can re-activate years later causing a painful outbreak of shingles.
Anyone who has had the chickenpox can develop shingles; however, the risk of getting the disease increases as a person gets older.  
For more information on getting vaccinated, contact your local health department. For more information on shingles or the shingles vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov.