Shingles shot Yes, please!

At 50?

Dear Dr. Roach: I’m writing in regard to your recent column about a 56-year-old person, recommendinghe or she wait till 60 for the shingles shot. In 2010 I was 56 and was told by my insurance company that they would not cover the shot till Iwas 60. Unfortunately, that year I suffered a shingles attack. I spent an extremely painful and stressful year, not being able to see well. My corneawas permanently damaged. So, I have told all my friends and family to get the shingles shot as soon as possible. Ihate to see anyone go through what I did!— G.J.

I thank G.J. for writing. To be clear, I do recommend the shingles shot beginning at age 50. The column was about a person nervous to get the shot during the coronavirus pandemic. I said it was OK to wait because the risk of serious complications of shingles at age 50 is low.

However, as G.J. points out, the risk of complications from shingles, even at a younger age, is not zero. I do recommend the vaccine starting at age 50, but the older a person is, the greater the risk of shingles complications, and thus the more benefit they are likely to get fromthe vaccine.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 87 and have heart disease. I take atorvastatin and aspirin. Is it dangerous for me to get a flu shot?— J.B.

It’s more dangerous for you NOT to get a flu shot than it is to get one. Although there are risks to the flu shot, they are small and almost always involve symptoms that last a day or two at the most. Even though the flu shot is “only” about 50% effective, that means a lot less flu, and flu in an 87-year-old person with heart disease is very dangerous and can be fatal. This year in particular, we want to keep peoplewithflu out of theemergency rooms and hospitals because ofCOVID-19, andthesingle best way to do that is through flu shots.