Are you one of the two-thirds of Americans over sixty years old who hasn’t had their shingles shot? If you aren’t familiar with shingles, you may not be alone, but you don’t want to be one in three Americans who develop shingles in their lifetime.
Shingles is a viral infection in the same family as chickenpox. Your symptoms will include a fever, a painful rash, fatigue, and a headache. While you can get shingles at any time in your life, the likelihood of getting it increases with age.
Your immune system keeps the virus dormant, but as you age, your immune system naturally weakens, which is why seniors are more susceptible to contracting shingles.
Shingrix, a vaccine said to be 90 percent effective in preventing shingles, found its way into the market in 2017. Doctors recommend that anyone over fifty years of age get two doses of Shingrix every five years.
Be sure to ask your doctor about the vaccine during your next wellness visit.
Read HERE about the changing perceptions about who should receive a shingles vaccine and reasons to prioritize getting one.
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