For Immediate Release

Atlantic, IA – Due to high demand for the shingles vaccine Shingrix, many patients across the country, including Cass County residents, are waiting on the vaccine to become available at their provider’s office.

“Due to the popularity and the effectiveness of the vaccine, many people are receiving the vaccine, which is great,” said CCHS Clinical Nurse Manager Danielle Staiert, RN. “The downside to this surge in vaccination is that the demand is outpacing the supply, which means patients are having to wait. CCHS is currently waiting on our next order of Shingrix to arrive, and I know the local pharmacies have also been affected.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, GSK (the manufacturer of Shingrix) is trying to best manage the increase in demand by implementing order limits. The CDC website also states that GSK has increased the US supply available for 2018.

“At this point, we recommend that patients call us first if they are interested in receiving the Shingrix vaccine. We can talk to the patient about their insurance, which factors into where they should get this shot, as well as let them know if we have it in stock,” said Danielle.

Patients should call the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Room at 712-250-8122.

About the CDC Recommendation for Shingrix
CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), separated by 2 to 6 months, to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.

Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Two doses of Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Protection stays above 85% for at least the first four years after you get vaccinated. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Zostavax may still be used to prevent shingles in healthy adults 60 years and older.