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Calgary Herald

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.'