Brian Donohue still remembers the blisters that plagued his older co-worker 30-years ago.
“It was a rash on his arm. He said he had it on his back too” Donohue recalled. “He didn’t even want to have his shirt touching it, that’s how painful it was, so that made an impression.”
Donohue, a Public Information Editor for UW Medicine, said he hadn't thought much about what those blisters were until a co-worker recently mentioned a shingles vaccine shortage.
So Donohue got the shot -- and has been spreading the word --- ever since. “I have a monthly poker game and mentioned it last Friday night,” the 55-year old told KIRO 7. “Everyone’s ears perked up because several people are in their fifties and they were interested, especially when I said it was in short supply right now.”
According to the Washington State University College of Medicine, heightened public awareness of the viral infection and a new, highly effective vaccine called Shingrix have led to a nationwide shortage.
Dr. Lawrence Schecter is the Associate Dean of the WSU College of Medicine Everett campus. He said people over fifty “are reaching out for the vaccine in much larger numbers that they have traditionally done” because Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles.
The old vaccine --- Zostavax -- was only about 50% effective.
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In addition to painful blisters, shingles can also cause blindness if the sores break out close to a patient’s eyes.
Life-long nerve pain can also result.
“It can be very severe, debilitating pain and can last years and years,” according to Dr Schecter.
Which is why doctors are now recommending everyone over the age of 50 get vaccinated.
More vaccine is expected to be available later this year.
Despite the shortage, Donohue had no trouble locating a pharmacy with the vaccine in stock. “I thought that working down at South Lake Union, you recognize that the demographic skews younger, so I figured, if anyone would have it, Bartell’s at South Lake Union would, and they did.
Cox Media Group
