Why Is The Shingles Vaccine So Expensive

The takeaway medicare advantage and medicare part d should cover at least a portion of the shingles vaccine s cost.

Why is the shingles vaccine so expensive.

Only one company merck makes the shingles shot and there s. Here s a few reasons why it s difficult to make adults get vaccinated. The most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness pain tenderness swelling and itching at the injection site and headaches. Only one pharmaceutical company merck makes the shingles shot and.

Cdc recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called shingrix recombinant zoster vaccine separated by 2 to 6 months to prevent shingles and the. Some people report a chickenpox like rash after getting the shingles vaccine. What everyone should know about shingles vaccine shingrix shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia phn the most common complication from shingles. Consumer reports found that many part d plans categorize the shingles vaccine zostavax as an expensive tier 3 or 4 drug.

That s why preventing shingles can be so important. Protection from this shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years so adults vaccinated before they are 60 years old might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest. Consumer reports found that many part d plans categorize the shingles vaccine zostavax as an expensive tier 3 or 4 drug. Adults 50 through 59 years who have questions about shingles vaccine should discuss the risks and benefits with a healthcare provider.

Drugs in tier 1 and 2 mainly lower priced generics and preferred brand name drugs have lower co pays than more expensive nonpreferred brands in tier 3 or 4. Written by dan gray updated on april 3 2019. The shingrix vaccine is so effective that despite this it is still recommended because it s so powerful in preventing the development of a shingles disease swartz. Why so expensive isenberg said.

The shortages the vaccine s effectiveness and the fact that shingrix is a brand name drug with no competitors have all contributed to its price tag said thomas goetz chief of research at goodrx an online drug price comparison tool. Although some people will develop shingles despite vaccination the vaccine may reduce the severity and duration of it.