WOONSOCKET, R.I., March 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Pharmacy, the
retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), announced today that all
of its more than 9,800 pharmacies have the new Shingrix vaccine
available for patients.1 The new vaccine was licensed by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 and is now
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Healthy adults age 50 and older are recommended to get two doses
of Shingrix, two to six months apart, to prevent shingles and
reduce the course and severity of the disease. The Shingrix vaccine
is considered more than 90 percent effective at preventing shingles
and protection stays above 85 percent for at least the first four
years after a patient is vaccinated.
Ninety-nine percent of people ages 50 and older are at risk of
getting shingles, a painful rash that is also known as herpes
zoster, in their lifetime. There are an estimated one million cases
of shingles each year in the U.S. It is recommended that patients
who have had shingles, have previously received the Zostavax
vaccine,2 or who are unsure if they have had chickenpox,
receive the Shingrix vaccine. Anyone who has recovered from
chickenpox may develop shingles, including children, although the
risk of shingles increases as people age.
"Vaccination is key to preventing shingles and CVS Pharmacy is
pleased to be able to provide patients with convenient access to
this new and more effective vaccine," said Kevin Hourican, Executive Vice President,
Pharmacy Services, for CVS Pharmacy. "Our pharmacists can help
patients determine if Shingrix is right for them and can vaccinate
patients at times and locations that work for their busy
schedules."
Many health insurance plans will cover the new vaccine,
including Medicare Part D. Patients are encouraged to contact their
insurance provider to determine if and when their individual plan
will cover the Shingrix vaccine. Patients can visit www.cvs.com to
find nearby CVS Pharmacy locations and to learn more about the
Shingrix vaccine and other immunizations CVS Pharmacy provides.
Certain immunizations have age and location restrictions.
About CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is
America's leading retail pharmacy with over 9,800 locations. It is
the first national pharmacy to end the sale of tobacco and the
first pharmacy in the nation to receive the Community Pharmacy
accreditation from URAC, the leading health care accreditation
organization that establishes quality standards for the health care
industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on
their path to better health by providing the most accessible and
personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com.
General information about CVS Pharmacy and CVS Health is available
at www.cvshealth.com.
Media
Contact
Amy Lanctot
CVS Pharmacy
401-770-2931
Amy.Lanctot@CVSHealth.com
1Due to state regulations, the Shingrix vaccine is
currently not available at CVS Pharmacy locations in Florida.
2If a patient has recently received the Zostavax
vaccine, they should wait at least eight weeks before receiving the
Shingrix vaccine.
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SOURCE CVS Pharmacy