Shingrix, shingles vaccine for older adults, now available at CVS

Pharmacy-retail giant CVS announced on Friday that it will now carry the shingles vaccine Shingrix in all 9,800 of its locations, with many insurance providers covering the preventive treatment recommended for adults age 50 and older, the company said in a statement.

Yet, CVS stores in one state, Florida, won’t carry the vaccine because of state regulations, the company announced.

Shingles is a painful rash appearing on either the face or torso that can cause intense pain and burning sensation, lasting between seven and 10 days and taking two to four weeks to clear up, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are an estimated a million cases of shingles each year in the U.S., with one out of every three people likely to develop the rash in their lifetime. Anyone who has had the chickenpox can develop shingles later on in life. In some cases, children can develop shingles.

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a new vaccine, Shingrix, which was shown to be more effective than the previously used one, Zostavax. Adults aged 50 and over are recommended to get two doses of Shingrix, two to six months apart.

If they have already received Zostavax, they are recommended to wait at least eight weeks before receiving Shingrix.

“Vaccination is key to preventing shingles and CVS Pharmacy is pleased to be able to provide patients with convenient access to this new and more effective vaccine,” Kevin Hourican, executive vice president for Pharmacy Services at CVS Pharmacy said in a statement.

“Our pharmacists can help patients determine if Shingrix is right for them and can vaccinate patients at times and locations that work for their busy schedules.”