MPH’s Schaffner: New CDC recommended shingles vaccine schedule
Federal officials have recommended a new vaccine that is more effective than an earlier version at protecting older adults against the painful rash called shingles. But persuading many adults to get this and other recommended vaccines continues to be an uphill battle, physicians and vaccine experts say.
Vaccine coverage under the Medicare program for people age 65 and older may not cover the new vaccine, Shingrix. Vaccines to prevent influenza and pneumonia are covered without a co-payment under Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care. Other vaccines, including the shingles vaccine, are typically covered under Part D drug plans, which may leave some beneficiaries on the hook for all or part of the cost of the two-shot series.
That can pose a significant problem for patients. “Not every Medicare beneficiary elects Part D, and even if you do, some have deductibles and co-payments,” said William Schaffner, an infectious-diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.