The Naugatuck Valley Health District will hold a Shingles Vaccine clinic to provide the shingles vaccine Zostavax® ("ZOS-tah-vax") to individuals aged 60 and up. The first clinic will be held Sept. 10 at the health district office, 98 Bank St. Shingles vaccine will also be offered at weekly immunization clinics each Tuesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Appointments are required.
Anyone who has had the chicken pox is at risk for getting shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of adults in America have had chicken pox. Shingles can be painful and can cause serious problems such as long-term nerve pain. Zostavax® is not a treatment for Shingles—it's a vaccine you can get now to help reduce your risk of getting Shingles in the future. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 60 years receive one dose of shingles vaccine. You should not get Zostavax® if you are allergic to any of its ingredients, including gelatin or neomycin, have a weakened immune system, take high doses of steroids, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. People who have already had shingles can receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease.
The cost for the vaccine is $200, payable by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or debit cards. The health district also accepts most Medicare Part D plans for the Shingles vaccine. This may lower out of pocket costs for those insured.
The health district offers a wide range of vaccines to protect adults from preventable illnesses including tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) also called Tdap; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); shingles; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; varicella (chickenpox); meningococcal and influenza vaccines.
For information about the shingles vaccine clinic or any other vaccine services, contact Caleen McGuigan at NVHD from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 203-881-3255.
