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SHINGLES VACCINE NOW AVAILABLE TO VA PATIENTS --

VA will offer vaccine to patients with appropriate

medical conditions, usually those who are 60

or older and have healthy immune systems.

 

 

Last week I saw my VA Primary Care Provider and asked for the shingles vaccine.  She told me the VA had not approved it yet.  Oh, well, a day late and a dollar short, again.

This is good news for older veterans.  If you are 60 or older and screen positive for Chicken Pox, you should get this vaccine.

For more on shingles including the VA research that was key to developing the vaccine, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
search.php?q=shingles&op=and

Our information comes from a VA press release.

VA press release here... http://www.va
watchdog.org/07/vap07/vap082307-1.htm 

Press release below:

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Shingles Vaccine Available to VA Patients

August 23, 2007

Nicholson: Single Inoculation Provides Protection

WASHINGTON—A vaccine for shingles, which Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers helped develop, is available to veterans who are patients at VA medical facilities nationwide.

“Shingles can seriously degrade the quality of life for those who suffer from this disease,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “Offering this vaccine to our patients is further evidence of VA’s commitment to provide world-class health care to America’s veterans.

“VA will continue research that leads to real-life solutions like the distribution of this shingles vaccine for patients at VA facilities across the country,” Nicholson added.

VA physicians will offer the vaccine to patients with appropriate medical conditions, usually those who are 60 years of age or older and have healthy immune systems. A single dose of the vaccine offers protection against shingles, which is scientifically named Herpes Zoster.

VA researchers and patients from across the country participated in studies which led to the vaccine’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine is available immediately to those who are recommended for the treatment.

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Larry Scott  --