Experts call on Alberta to make shingles vaccine more easily accessible for seniors
As Alberta's senior population continues to grow, experts are asking the province to lower the barrier to receive shingles vaccinations.
Article content
'It's a kick-you-while-you're-down disease,' said Anjli Acharya, a pharmacist who specializes in vaccines and immunizations.
Article content
Article content
Shingles is a viral infection that can cause painful rashes with blisters on an area of the body. It is caused by the same virus as the chicken pox, which can lie dormant inside anybody who contracted it in the past.
Article content
Article content
The dormant virus can reactivate when someone's immune system becomes compromised due to age, stress, or illness.
Article content
Article content
'The shingles virus can reactivate because it is sitting on the nerve ending of any of us that have had chicken pox in the past,' Acharya said.
Article content
One in four people will likely contract the virus once they reach 50. By the age of 80, the risk increases to a one-in-two chance.
Article content
Shingles vaccinations like Shingrix help prevent complications that stem from contracting the virus. This includes post-hepatic neuralgia, a nerve condition that can occur following a shingles infection.
Article content
Two doses of Shingrix in Alberta would cost $360 for the full series of treatment separated over six months.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Acharya has never heard why the provincial government will not cover the vaccine, which is often a challenge for the subset of individuals who cannot afford it.
Article content
'From a socioeconomic perspective, a vaccine at this cost will often put individuals that have other determinants of health at higher risk,' she said. 'From a clinical perspective, I would really prefer that everyone have shingles vaccine coverage because those patients, who are more vulnerable, higher risk, have chronic disease, or are living on a fixed income are less likely to afford the shingles vaccine.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
21 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Europeans try to coax Iran back to diplomacy, as Trump considers strikes, World News
GENEVA — European foreign ministers are set to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday (June 20) aiming to create a pathway back to diplomacy over its contested nuclear programme despite the US actively considering joining Israeli strikes against Iran. Ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, as well as the European Union's foreign policy chief spoke to Abbas Araqchi earlier this week and have been coordinating with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In a rare call they pressed upon Araqchi the need to return to the negotiating table and avoid further escalation. At Iran's suggestion the two sides agreed to meet face-to-face. The talks will be held in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. They come after negotiations between Iran and the United States collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," said a European diplomat. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The European powers, who were not part of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the United States, had grown increasingly frustrated by the US negotiating strategy in the talks. They deemed some of the demands unrealistic, while fearing the possibility of a weak initial political framework that would lead to open-ended negotiations. Two diplomats said there were no great expectations for a breakthrough in Geneva, where the European Union's foreign policy chief will also attend. But they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped, Iran's nuclear programme would still remain unresolved given that it would be impossible to eradicate the know-how acquired, leaving it potentially able to clandestinely rebuild its programme. An Iranian official said Tehran has always welcomed diplomacy, but urged the E3 to use all available means to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Iran. "Iran remains committed to diplomacy as the only path to resolving disputes — but diplomacy is under attack," the official said. Prior to Israel's strikes the E3 and US put forward a resolution that was approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN watchdog, which declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. As part of last week's IAEA resolution, European officials had said they could refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council later in the summer to add pressure on Iran if there was no progress in the nuclear talks. That would be separate to them reimposing UN sanctions, known as the snapback mechanism, before October 18 when the 2015 accord expires. The Europeans are the only ones who can launch the snapback mechanism, with diplomats saying the three countries had looked to set a final deadline at the end of August to launch it. "Iran has repeatedly stated that triggering snapback will have serious consequences," the Iranian official said. [[nid:719305]]
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ruthless Pacers throttle Thunder to push NBA finals to decisive Game 7
The Indiana Pacers saved their best for last at home. Obi Toppin scored 20 points, Andrew Nembhard added 17 and the Pacers blew past the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 of the NBA finals on Thursday night, leveling the series at 3-3 and setting up a dramatic Game 7 in Oklahoma City. Pascal Siakam added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, while Tyrese Haliburton, playing through a strained calf, delivered 14 points to steady the team after a rocky start. TJ McConnell chipped in 12 points, nine boards and six assists off the bench in another energetic showing. Schedule Best-of-seven-games series. All times US eastern time (EDT). Thu 5 Jun Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 Sun 8 Jun Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 Wed 11 Jun Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107 Fri 13 Jun Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104 Mon 16 Jun Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109 Thu 19 Jun Game 6: Pacers 108, Thunder 91 Sun 22 Jun Game 7: Pacers at Thunder, 8pm How to watch In the US, all games will air on ABC. Streaming options include or the ABC app (with a participating TV provider login), as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV (via ESPN3 for ABC games). NBA League Pass offers replays, but live finals games are subject to blackout restrictions in the US. In the UK, the games will be available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. As for streaming, NBA League Pass will provide live and on-demand access to all Finals games without blackout restrictions. In Australia, the games will broadcast live on ESPN Australia. Kayo Sports and Foxtel Now will stream the games live, while NBA League Pass will offer live and on-demand access without blackout restrictions. Indiana missed their first eight shots and fell behind 10-2, but then went on a 68-32 run across the second and third quarters. The lead ballooned to 31 late in the third – the Thunder's second-worst deficit of the season – and the Pacers cruised to their first double-digit win of the series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 21 points and Jalen Williams had 16, but the Thunder pulled their starters before the fourth quarter. A half-time lineup switch inserting Alex Caruso failed to spark a comeback, as both teams opened the third quarter with nearly four scoreless minutes and 13 straight missed shots. Game 7 will mark the first time the NBA finals has gone the distance since 2016. The Thunder have already come back from a 45-point hole in these playoffs and will need one more rally at home. For Indiana, the moment was about resilience. With Hall of Famer Reggie Miller watching courtside in a Jalen Rose jersey, the Pacers played their most complete game of the series. They controlled the glass, pushed the pace and held Oklahoma City to 37% shooting. Now both teams head to a one-night showdown for the NBA title. More to follow.
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Putting China's rare earth dominance in perspective
After the United States and China re-affirmed the truce in their trade war last week, it is expected that flow of rare earth minerals from China to the rest of the world will return to normal. China imposed export restrictions on seven rare earths – a group of 17 elements with applications from electronics to renewable energy systems – in April. This hurt industries across the globe, including India, where importers do not yet have clarity on resumption of rare earth imports. This episode makes it a good opportunity to check how dominant is China in the production of these elements and how this dominance has evolved over time. Here are three charts that answer these questions.
