The Marion-Rochester Health District is encouraging those 60 and older to take advantage of its Shingles Immunization Program. Officially known as the Zoster vaccine, the program is now available through a collaboration with Marion’s and Rochester’s Boards of Health.

The expensive vaccine can cost a couple of hundred dollars and not all insurance companies cover the treatment. Because of the cost and insurance coverage uncertainty, a number of physicians do not stock the vaccine. While the district and the health boards encourage residents to discuss immunizations with their primary care provider, they also recognize that there is a gap in availability for this vaccine.

Shingles can present in individuals who had the disease chickenpox. The chickenpox virus remains dormant in the body after the childhood illness but can present as a “shingles” rash later in life. The painful rash is often accompanied by blisters and usually lasts for two to four weeks. The Zoster vaccine has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of shingles occurring by 50 percent. It has also been shown to reduce the pain of shingles in those who get shingles even though they have been immunized.

In an effort to meet the needs of the residents, the health boards and the district have secured funding to make the vaccine available to residents whose insurance companies cover the vaccine and for those residents who don’t have insurance coverage for the vaccine.

Currently, there are a limited number of doses available for those who are uninsured or underinsured. These doses have been provided to the health boards by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Additionally, the Health District has a limited number of doses available for individuals with insurance coverage. Pre-approval from insurance companies is required prior to administering the vaccine.  In some cases, co-pays may apply or residents may be asked to pay for the vaccine at time of service and seek reimbursement from their insurance company.

For more information, call Betsy Dunn at the Rochester Board of Health 508-763-5421 or Kathy Downey at the Marion Board of Health 508-748-3530.