By Laurie Whittier
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

More than 90% of  American adults have had chicken pox, putting them at risk for Herpes Zoster, better known as shingles. In response, Wind Crest’s on-site doctor has moved quickly to provide vaccination talks and clinics for residents and reserved Priority List members.

Wind Crest’s medical center also assists with getting insurance coverage information with help from nearby ClearSpring Pharmacy. ClearSpring is partnering with the community to administer the vaccines.

According to Wind Crest’s Dr. Patrick Roney, most people over the age of 60 are candidates. “Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox,” he says. Early on, it causes a blistering rash on an arm, leg, torso, chest, or face—among other symptoms.

Age, stress are triggers
“This virus seems to lie dormant in certain nerve cells for decades after someone has contracted chicken pox,” Roney says. As immune systems weaken due to age, illness, and even stress, the virus can reactivate as shingles. One out of two Americans who live to age 85 will contract it, he says.

Even worse than the primary symptoms is the post herpetic neuralgia that is experienced by one in five sufferers, he says. This burning nerve pain can last for months or even years.

A shot worth getting
Shirley Greer, who now lives at Wind Crest, is one of the unlucky 20% who suffer this long-term nerve pain. “It’s been six years since I contracted shingles, and I still have the pain just about every day,” Greer says. “It’s not fun, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I’d certainly recommend that people our age get this vaccine—even if they have to pay for it themselves,” she adds.

Approved by the FDA in the spring of 2006, the Zostavax vaccine is believed to provide protection against shingles for around five years—although other experts believe its immunity may last decades. Something that remains unknown is whether people who have had shingles benefit from the vaccine to prevent another outbreak.