Kelly Blackwell is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®. She has been a healthcare professional for over 30 years, with experience working as a bedside nurse and as a Clinical Manager. She has a passion for educating, assisting and advising seniors throughout the healthcare process.
Shingles is a painful rash that typically develops on one side of either your face or torso. It’s caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox (herpes zoster), which lies dormant in your body after recovery and may be reawakened as you age and your immune system weakens.
Shingrix is the only shingles vaccine approved for use in the United States. The vaccine is covered by Medicare prescription drug plans, either a stand-alone plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan.
This article contains information for your consideration before you get the shingles vaccine. As with any decision you make about your health care, it’s a good idea to weigh the risks vs. benefits and confer with a trusted health care professional.
Who Needs the Shingles Vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the shingles vaccine for people aged 50 and older. It is a manufactured inactivated vaccine intended to prevent shingles. The vaccine is administered in two separate doses given by intramuscular injection, separated by two to six months.
The shingles vaccine is considered an important vaccine for seniors because our immune system weakens as we age. The recommendation for vaccination is based on the potential severity of symptoms and long-term complications.
A shingles vaccine called Zostavax is no longer used in the U.S. as of November 2020. If you received that vaccine, the CDC recommends talking with your doctor about getting the Shingrix vaccine.
Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles, but it does not prevent chickenpox.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are redness and pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. Some people also experience fever and nausea. Side effects are primarily due to your immune system response and should resolve within two or three days on their own.
Original Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is covered under your Medicare prescription drug plan.
How Much Does the Shingles Vaccine Cost?
Depending on your payment source, your cost and coverage for the shingles vaccine can vary. There are costs associated with the vaccine and its administration. Vaccines can be given at a pharmacy, doctor’s office, or clinic.
If you use your insurance coverage, the least expensive option is typically an in-network pharmacy. If you have an annual deductible for your prescription drug coverage, consider getting both doses of the vaccine within the same calendar year.
Can You Get the Shingles Vaccine for Free?
The shingles vaccine is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals, a pharmaceutical company. GSK has a patient assistance program that may provide the vaccine to you at no cost if you meet these eligibility criteria:
- You don’t have prescription drug coverage or a Part D plan and have spent at least $600 during the calendar year
- You are an adult, age 19 or older
- You live in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia
- You don’t qualify for Puerto Rico’s Government Health Plan
- Your maximum monthly gross income does not exceed certain limits, depending on where you reside and your household size
- You apply through your health care provider, who will register for the patient assistance program and submit your application
Learn More From Our Sources
- CDC | Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine Information | Last accessed October 2022
- CDC | Shingles: What Everyone Should Know | Last accessed October 2022
- CDC | Shingles Fact Sheet | Last accessed October 2022
- GSK | GSK Patient Assistance Program | Last accessed October 2022
- Medicare | Coverage of Shingles Shots | Last accessed October 2022
- Medicare | Part D Drug Coverage | Last accessed October 2022
- Medicare | Medicare Advantage Plans | Last accessed October 2022
- Medicare | Extra Help | Last accessed October 2022
- NCOA | Vaccines For Seniors Covered by Medicare | Last accessed October 2022
- Shingrix | Cost and Coverage Information | Last accessed October 2022
- SHIP | State Health Insurance Assistance Program | Last accessed October 2022
Neither
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
nor
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
cover the shingles shot.
Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) usually cover all commercially available vaccines needed to prevent illness, like the shingles shot. Contact your Medicare drug plan for more coverage information.