Shingles vaccine available to beneficiaries age 60, older

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FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) --  Following a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation issued Oct. 19 Tricare now covers Zostavax, the vaccine designed to prevent shingles for beneficiaries age 60 and older.

Shingles is a painful viral disease that affects more than one million Americans every year. More than half of those cases happen in people age 60 or older. The CDC recommends a single dose of shingles vaccine for everyone age 60 and older.

In a shingles prevention study done by the Veterans Administration Cooperative Trial, run by Dr. Michael Oxman out of the University of California, San Diego, Zostavax was more than 50 percent effective in reducing the incidence of shingles and more than 60 percent effective in reducing some of its associated symptoms. Even in people who suffer from the disease, most of those who were vaccinated experienced less pain.

"Offering this vaccine to our beneficiaries is further evidence of Tricare's commitment to provide first-rate healthcare to Uniformed Service members and their families," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the Deputy Director of the Tricare Management Activity. "We cover all immunizations recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and formally endorsed and adopted by the CDC."

Beneficiaries who receive the shingles vaccine must have vaccinations administered in a provider's office. Zostavax is covered under the Tricare medical benefit and is not reimbursable under the pharmacy benefit. 

Beneficiaries with coverage or claims questions should contact the Tricare regional claims processor found on their beneficiary explanation of benefits notice.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. It remains in the body for decades, sleeping in nerve cells along the spinal column. A shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and lasts between two and four weeks. It is painful and can be accompanied by fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.

For more information on shingles and the vaccine you may visit the CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-shingles.pdf.

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