Importance for Seniors to Get the Shingles Vaccine

Shingles is a very painful condition that occurs most often in senior citizens. It is a throw back from having chicken pox as a child. Up until three years ago, there really wasn't much that could be done to alleviate the painful symptoms of shingles. A vaccine was approved by the FDA to help alleviate those symptoms about three years ago. There is a problem with it though. People don't seem to be taking advantage of the shingles vaccine.

Importance of seniors getting shingles vaccines:

Alleviates Pain- The pain of shingles can be unbearable. The pain can, in fact, be so painful that it can take away the ability to function properly in everyday life. The shingles vaccine can help alleviate the pain so that you can continue to go through your everyday life without the painful side effects of shingles. The pain relief is the number one reason that you should get the shingles vaccine.

Rash- The shingles vaccine can help alleviate some of the rash that appears due to the shingles. The rash is very apparent on shingles patients. It is red and bumpy, which is not very attractive. It may not clear the rash completely but it can help lower the amount of rash that covers your body. Rashes can make you feel bad simply because of the fact that they don't look pretty and that brings down your self-esteem level during break outs.

Itch- The shingles vaccine can help alleviate the itching that you have when you get shingles. Itching means that you will scratch and scratching can lead to scars. Getting the shingles vaccine can make all the difference in how much you itch when you get shingles.

These are the main reasons that you should consider getting the shingles vaccine. Relieving the pain, rash and itch are important enough to consider the vaccine. Shingles occurs because after we get chicken pox, it lies dormant even though we don't feel the affects of it. Certain factors make it possible for the chicken pox virus to return but in a different form commonly known as the shingles. The chicken pox virus never goes away and many people feel the affliction of shingles when it comes out of dormancy.

The shingles vaccine is very expensive and it isn't completely covered by insurance plans. That is why a lot of people opt out of getting the shots. Doctors haven't pushed the issue too much with their patients for this reason. Most people can't afford the "luxury" of getting the vaccine. It might be time that insurance companies begin to cover the shot along with Medicaid. Until then, if you can afford it and you have shingles, talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine so you don't have to suffer anymore than you already have.