WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2008

Study: Too Many Adults Skip Vaccinations

Health Officials Say Grown-Ups Are Avoiding Shots That Could Ward Off Suffering

  • Play CBS Video Video Study: Adults Skipping Shots

    Dr. Jon LaPook speaks with Katie Couric about an alarming CDC study showing that many adults are skipping important vaccinations, placing themselves at risk against a number of preventable diseases.

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     (AP)

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(CBS/AP)  Vaccines aren't just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are rolling up their sleeves, disappointed federal health officials reported Wednesday.

The numbers of newly vaccinated are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new shots - which protect against shingles, whooping cough and cervical cancer - received in recent years.

Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases found that aside from the flu, most adults have trouble even naming diseases that they could prevent with a simple inoculation.

"There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "By skipping vaccination, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to significant illness, long-term suffering and even death."

The new CDC report found:

  • Only about 2 percent of Americans 60 and older received a vaccine against shingles in its first year of sales. Yet there are more than 1 million new cases of shingles, an excruciating rite of aging, each year. Up to 200,000 shingles sufferers get a particularly bad type of nerve pain that can persist for months or even years. Anyone who ever had chickenpox is at risk, especially once they hit their 60s.

  • About 2 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 got a booster shot against whooping cough in the two years since it hit the market. The cough so strong it can break a rib is making a big comeback, because the vaccine given to babies and toddlers starts wearing off by adolescence. Older patients usually recover, but whooping cough can cause weeks of misery. Worse, those people can easily spread the illness to not-yet-vaccinated infants, who are at risk of dying from the bacterial infection, also called pertussis. The booster was added to another shot long recommended for adults, a combination booster against tetanus and diphtheria. The new triple combo is called "Tdap."

  • About 10 percent of women ages 18 to 26 have received at least one dose of a three-shot series that protects against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that causes cervical cancer.

    There are several reasons such a small percentage of adults get vaccinated, according to CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. Among those are cost, availability and accessibility -- which has to do with how many doctors readily offer the vaccines.

    "Doctors have a tendency to hold back for the first year or so to see if any side effects pop out," LaPook said. "If you're a doctor, you don't want to adopt it too soon; you don't want to adopt it too late."

    Learn more at Couric & Co. Blog: Adults, Give It A Shot!
    Price has to be part of the reason: The shingles shot costs around $150, and the three-shot HPV vaccine about $300, and insurance coverage varies. There's no national program to guarantee access for adults who can't afford vaccines as there is for child vaccines.

    But cost can't be the main reason: Adults aren't taking full advantage of some inexpensive standby vaccines, either. CDC found that just 69 percent of seniors get the flu shot; 66 percent have had a one-time pneumonia vaccine; and 44 percent had received a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.

    Supply, also can be a deterrent. In recent years, some areas of the country have had flu vaccine shortages, though this year there was no shortage, LaPook said.

    MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    by joyous88 January 23, 2008 12:57 PM PST
    who can afford to get vaccinated,

    health care is only for wealthy americans
    Reply to this comment
    by bobnjersey January 23, 2008 1:20 PM PST
    this message brought to you by your local pharmaceutical lobby
    Reply to this comment
    by moleman--2008 January 23, 2008 1:36 PM PST
    Joyous88--I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have no health insurance so how in the world could I get any of these vaccines? No one is handing them out for free. I''d love to get the shingles one as I had it once in my eye and would love never to get it again. But since our government is owned by foreign governments and pharmaceutical and oil companies and a plethora of other special interests we will never see anything approaching reasonable and affordable healthcare. We need a Second American Revolution. Eat the rich!
    Reply to this comment
    by godofredo29 January 23, 2008 2:06 PM PST
    One vaccination I didn''t skip: the HPV vaccination...and I''m a guy! Screw the media for not promoting it among men. I''m sure there''s a huge lawsuit looming waiting to fall on whomever is behind that. All the guys who could avoid penile and anal cancer, not to mention genital warts.
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 23, 2008 2:10 PM PST
    Of course they want to chalk it up to lack of awareness or lack of health coverage or lack of money. How about maybe adults, who''ve seen their kids and grandkids injured by vaccines, have figured out that these vaccines are not SAFE? Maybe people don''t trust the CDC, FDA and drug companies. People have died from that new HPV shot, but you don''t see that on the (drug-company sponsored) evening news.
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 23, 2008 2:12 PM PST
    Of course they want to chalk it up to lack of awareness or lack of health coverage or lack of money. How about maybe adults, who''ve seen their kids and grandkids injured by vaccines, have figured out that these vaccines are not SAFE? Maybe people don''t trust the CDC, FDA and drug companies. People have died from that new HPV shot, but you don''t see that on the (drug-company sponsored) evening news.
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 23, 2008 2:14 PM PST
    HPV shot wasn''t tested or approved for men. Efficacy is not yet proven and people have died and had serious reactions from it.
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 23, 2008 2:30 PM PST
    Here''s the link to the CDC adverse event reporting for HPV/Deaths:

    http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/findfield.php?PAGENO=1&PERPAGE=10&SORTING=NONE&VAX=HPV4&DIED=Yes
    Reply to this comment
    by joyous88 January 23, 2008 3:14 PM PST
    zemoleman;

    right on!

    Reply to this comment
    by tylenol6 January 23, 2008 3:19 PM PST
    I wouldn''t get any vaccines the government is trying to tell you to get. Remember Gov. Rick Perry "demanding" that young girl''s get the vaccine in Texas to prevent some sexual disease or wart''s? Well, guess who stood to make a ton of money from Merck???? NONE OTHER THAN GOV. RICK PERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON''T DO IT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
    Besides, there isn''t any oversight with the FDA. One
    example is look at our tainted food?????? NO OVERSIGHT.....
    Reply to this comment
    by susieq_13 January 23, 2008 3:37 PM PST
    I agree with Tylenol6...beware of what the government is telling you. These immunizations are not necessary in my opinion. Screw the FDA!
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 23, 2008 3:53 PM PST
    Memo to CDC, FDA and Pharma: We are not your lab rats!
    Reply to this comment
    by shanev137 January 23, 2008 4:03 PM PST
    Most people don''t trust the FDA, so it''s not surprising.
    Reply to this comment
    by godofredo29 January 23, 2008 4:08 PM PST
    Why do I think that Garbosmed is precisely one of those people I was referring to? (Sorry if this gets printed twice. Blame it one Garbosmed.)
    Reply to this comment
    by yohnvilson January 23, 2008 4:11 PM PST
    godofredo29 -- are you serious? I didn''t think they were even allowed to give the HPV shot to men (or women outside the age range -- it sounds like the approval was very limited). I don''t have insurance either but I can sure come up with $300 if it would mean there''d be far less chance of me playing a part in someone getting cervical cancer. Just because we men can''t get that doesn''t mean we don''t mind getting HPV. My ex-wife had it before I knew her and I''ve always worried, from what I could find there''s no test available to the general public.

    Same deal with the shingles -- I didn''t know there was a vaccine for that, I had it on my stomach in high school and it really hurt (scars are still there). But zemoleman, no insurance doesn''t mean I can''t come up with 150 lousy bucks, once, if it means never going through that again. Having no insurance is an emergency if you get cancer/AIDS/paralysis/schizophrenia/etc. but sheesh, if you have a computer and Internet service then evidently you have disposable income so you can spend it on your health sometimes. Each time I spend $500 or $1000 on a health problem, I think how much I saved by not paying insurance premiums that year. Still ahead of the game.
    Reply to this comment
    by antizion January 23, 2008 4:32 PM PST
    I''ll pass on your mercury and aspartame laced drugs that are designed to dumb me down and cause me health problems and shorten my life.

    A vaccination is suppose to prevent disease not cause it. So people prevent that by not getting vaccinations.

    Now what will happen if we really do need to vaccinate the population after people no longer trust the government?
    Reply to this comment
    by denn034 January 23, 2008 5:26 PM PST
    Perhaps, people skip vaccines because, oh, I don''t know, maybe it''s their inability to afford it that does it. You think? Duh!
    Reply to this comment
    by neobrian-2009 January 23, 2008 6:04 PM PST
    Who Do we trust The least ? The Drug Companies ? Or The Government ??
    Reply to this comment
    by moleman--2008 January 23, 2008 6:23 PM PST
    I agree with the posters who are mistrustful of our current FDA and the other agencies "approving" all the goodies we put in our bodies. I no longer have faith in these institutions (or just about any institution--can you say Supreme Court?) that I once trusted. I no longer have any idea what is in the things I eat, drink, and perish the thought, smoke. I am sure if a company could turn fecal matter into tofu they''d try to sell it to us (and CBS and the other media outlets will take their ad $$$--no offense Les Moonves). Face it, as long as we consume like there is no tomorrow we are going to get what we pay for. As long as we tolerate and look the other way with leaders who lie, cheat, and profit (White House), we allow it to filter down through every facet of our lives, because if the big guy can get away with it why can''t everyone?
    Reply to this comment
    by eastwooddane January 23, 2008 7:01 PM PST
    I am so sick of the legalized drug pushisng in this country. EVERY 5 minutes a drug is being crammed down our throats on TV. Media push right along with all the drug companies in their stories about vaccines and seem to only get bias opinions and commentary on the subjects. Whatever happened to staying healthy by eating right and exercise and boosting your immune system? No... we are supposed to all live a life on drugs. It is disgusting and I hate that this drug pushing in taking place on our TV''s every 5 minutes and approved by the government. At the same time we are supposed to be teaching our children to stay away from drugs? Don''t let the drug companies brain wash you with scare tactics that you need vaccines and other drugs to stay healthy..
    Reply to this comment
    by andor3 January 23, 2008 7:10 PM PST
    of course... send money to the pharma companies and they will give you a shot or pill to make your troubles go away. The FDA (funded and staffed by the pharma folks) coincidentally agrees. So do many doctors, also greedy for the pharma handouts.

    Interesting that we who they are trying to push this on do not buy it.
    Reply to this comment
    by godofredo29 January 23, 2008 7:20 PM PST
    To YohnVilson: Yep, you can get the HPV vaccine "off label" and out of pocket. All very legal. Thousands of men have, many for the reason you cited. And, as I said before, HPV doesn''t just cause cervical cancer it also causes cancer of the *** and cancer of the ***. Approval for men "on label" is expected this year.
    Reply to this comment
    by hypnotoad72 January 23, 2008 7:30 PM PST
    Too many adults can''t afford them or no longer care if they die because of said illness.

    Our country is truly in a sad state. Especially when half the news articles claim the economy is in bad shape because no consumer is spending enough... the other half claiming consumers spend too much. That''s not sad. That''s bizarre, Especially when there are only a small handful of entities that run the various media outlets.

    Still, praise MSN for pointing out the lie that the average American credit card debt is $9000...
    Reply to this comment
    by Syndicate January 23, 2008 8:16 PM PST
    Where do you get them? How much do they cost? If I have to wait in a doctors office then forget it. I hate waiting an hour for the doctor to get to me. BY the time he does all I want to do is strangle him.
    Reply to this comment
    by cantshutup January 23, 2008 8:54 PM PST
    why should we continue to trust the government for anything especially for whatever they want to inject us with!
    Reply to this comment
    by cantshutup January 23, 2008 8:56 PM PST
    i agree zemoleman
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 23, 2008 9:15 PM PST
    Prayers aren''t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed church officials reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered prayers are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new prayers - which protect against selfishness, impulsiveness, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Deadly Sins found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming sins that they could prevent with a simple prayer.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said God. "By skipping prayer, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to soulful illness, long-term suffering and even spiritual death."

    Isn''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for religion? In whom do YOU trust?
    Reply to this comment
    by nothappyatall January 23, 2008 9:34 PM PST
    "whooping cough in the two years since it hit the market. "

    Right, like we want to be the drug companies'' GUINEA PIGS for new hardly tested vaccines with mercury preservatives in them.
    Reply to this comment
    by nothappyatall January 23, 2008 9:37 PM PST
    "sn''''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for religion? In whom do YOU trust?

    Posted by blazercoach1"

    I trust SCIENCE, with provable peer- reviewed studies and experiments, not some Santa Claus fairy-land bullchit in the sky!
    Reply to this comment
    by nothappyatall January 23, 2008 9:42 PM PST
    Orgasms arent just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed officials reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered s3x devices are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new devices - which protect against disease, unwanted babies, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for s3xual health found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming diseases that they could prevent with a simple condome.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said the official. "By skipping condomes, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to illness, long-term suffering and even death."

    Isnt it frightening how religious rightwingers have made almost a one-for-one replacement for life, s3x and enjoyment? In whom do YOU trust? some Santa Claus fairy tale in the sky, or what you see here during the life you have here today?
    Reply to this comment
    by nothappyatall January 23, 2008 9:46 PM PST
    " Don''''t let the drug companies brain wash you with scare tactics that you need vaccines and other drugs to stay healthy..

    Posted by eastwooddane"

    Ok, skip your vaccines and let someone with tuberculosis, influenza, measles or some other disease cough on you and let''s see how healthy you stay with diet and excersize!
    You can catch those and much more just being in an elevator or room someone SNEEZED in minutes before!
    Reply to this comment
    by nothappyatall January 23, 2008 9:49 PM PST
    "Each time I spend $500 or $1000 on a health problem, I think how much I saved by not paying insurance premiums that year. Still ahead of the game. "

    Right, ahead of the game untill you need a $100,000 triple heart by-pass or something, then those premiums you "saved" will look like chump change when you get the bill and lose your house because you cant pay it.
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 23, 2008 10:26 PM PST
    I think we see who newster''s God is. Science promises him absolute pleasure and painlessness with seemingly no consequence and he is willing to enslave himself to it.

    Do you hope to live forever, newster? Are you ever safe enough? Do you ever have enough?

    It will run out. You are never safe. Not if you trust the world of man.
    Reply to this comment
    by blackyowe January 23, 2008 10:40 PM PST
    I recently got a Tetanus shot after getting cut on the farm and ended up having to have the Whooping cough and Diptheria vacinations as they are all rolled up in one. When was the last time you worried you might get Diphtheria? I don''t trust these greedy drug companies any farther than I can hurl! Even if these are wonderful and safe I will never trust blindly again these corporations. They do use us as human Guinea Pigs! Drug companies give doctors perks for pushing drugs so how can we have any faith in the system.
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 23, 2008 11:06 PM PST
    Prayers aren''t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed Saints reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered prayers are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new prayers - which protect against selfishness, impulsiveness, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Deadly Sins found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming sins that they could prevent with a simple prayer.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said God. "By skipping prayer, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to soulful illness, long-term suffering and even spiritual death."

    Isn''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for God? In whom do YOU trust?
    Reply to this comment
    by prinzowhales January 23, 2008 11:08 PM PST
    Everyone who is sane skips vaccinations...just look at what is in them...the cancer causing SV40 was in the polio vaccines...they''ve got mercury and every other sort of poison in them...Ask yourself why the Amish don''t have autistic children.

    Add mercury to the rat poison, sodium fluoride, to the mercury and what you come up with...read your fluoride toothpaste tube and see what they say to do if you swallow. ''Scientific American'' just came out with an article on the dangers of this poison.

    Fluoride lowers IQ, harms teeth and bones and increases cancer rates...so, if the SV40 doesn''t take maybe the fluoride will.

    Relax America! Get your vaccinations--like the recent Merck vaccine for little girls...that may well cause an increase in cancer while not even claiming to prevent cancer. Some little girls have died horribly from their parents ignorance...Lap up some fluoridated water and guzzle a pint of hormones and pus that is labeled "milk".
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 24, 2008 12:54 AM PST
    HPV shot doesn''t prevent all variations of the disease, not even all the cancer-causing ones, so it''s not even guaranteed to prevent HPV let alone cancer. In the clinical trial, 5 women who got pregnant within 30 days of having the vaccine had babies with congenital birth defects. And it is less effective the more partners one has had, so if you''ve already been sleeping around you might as well not bother. The only reason for adult dudes to rush out and get this shot would be to boost their Pharma stocks.
    Reply to this comment
    by January 24, 2008 2:02 AM PST
    Maybe the Public is so very aware of the mercury in these vaccines. Vaccines are for Big Pharma''s profit.
    Reply to this comment
    by watcher269-2009 January 24, 2008 2:11 AM PST
    Don''t trust the Shots - IT''S X-FILES ALL OVER AGAIN!

    The shots contain - Mind Control Chemicals - Tracking chemicals.

    These shots Genetically alter humans for Aliens - they want us for food!

    It''s the Secret United Nations Sub-Government trying to control the world.


    All I can say is have the Dr. LaPook get a new hair piece/wig - this one looks ridiculous on him.

    Everyone should send him a bottle of hair dye.

    Reply to this comment
    by moleman--2008 January 24, 2008 9:09 AM PST
    But zemoleman, no insurance doesn''''t mean I can''''t come up with 150 lousy bucks, once, if it means never going through that again. Having no insurance is an emergency if you get cancer/AIDS/paralysis/schizophrenia/etc. but sheesh, if you have a computer and Internet service then evidently you have disposable income so you can spend it on your health sometimes.

    Posted by YohnVilson

    It ain''t just the "$150 bucks". It costs lots of bucks here in NY just to get in to see the doctor if you don''t have insurance, so we''re talking closer to $400-500 just to get a shot. Given that most of us are still waiting to see any part of that $20 Billion Post-911 $$$ promised us, and that the NYC Metro area still hasn''t recovered economically from the attack, don''t run off at the mouth about what we can and can''t afford. Just keeping a roof over my head and paying my bills is about all I can handle--paying one of the many quacks around here $500 for a shot ain''t in the budget buddy.
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 24, 2008 10:02 AM PST
    Prayers aren''''t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed Saints reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered prayers are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new prayers - which protect against selfishness, impulsiveness, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Deadly Sins found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming sins that they could prevent with a simple prayer.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said God. "By skipping prayer, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to soulful illness, long-term suffering and even spiritual death."

    Isn''''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for God? In whom do YOU trust?
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 24, 2008 1:37 PM PST
    Prayers aren''''''''t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed Saints reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered prayers are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new prayers - which protect against selfishness, impulsiveness, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Deadly Sins found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming sins that they could prevent with a simple prayer.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said God. "By skipping prayer, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to soulful illness, long-term suffering and even spiritual death."

    Isn''''''''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for God? In whom do YOU trust?
    Reply to this comment
    by blazercoach1 January 24, 2008 1:42 PM PST
    Prayers aren''''''''t just for kids, but far too few grown-ups are bowing their heads, disappointed Saints reported Wednesday.

    The numbers of newly offered prayers are surprisingly low, considering how much public attention a trio of new prayers - which protect against selfishness, impulsiveness, and dishonesty - received in recent years.

    Yet many seem to have missed, or forgotten, the news: A survey by the National Foundation for Deadly Sins found that aside from lust, most adults have trouble even naming sins that they could prevent with a simple prayer.

    "There are not yet very many adults taking full advantage of the great advancements in prevention that have been made in the past few years," said God. "By skipping prayer, people are leaving themselves needlessly vulnerable to soulful illness, long-term suffering and even spiritual death."

    Isn''''''''t it frightening how science has made almost a one-for-one replacement for God? In whom do YOU trust?
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 24, 2008 2:44 PM PST
    Why would I go get a flu shot and inject toxic mercury, formaldehyde, antifreeze and who knows what else into my body on purpose? I''m a healthy adult. If someone coughs on me and I get the flu, I''ll be sick for a week, have some cold medicine and chicken soup, drink lots of fluids, and get better. Unless you are elderly or immune compromised, the flu is no big deal. And the shot doesn''t even work that well in the elderly. So, again, why exactly are we supposed to believe the CDC?
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 25, 2008 4:38 PM PST
    The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) said one of the young women who received Gardasil died in Germany while the other was in Austria. It has not released their ages.

    It follows the deaths of three young women aged 12, 19 and 22 who were reported to have died in the U.S. days after Gardasil was administered, with 1,700 patients suffering "adverse reactions". There were no previous recorded deaths in Europe.
    Reply to this comment
    by garbosmed January 25, 2008 4:39 PM PST
    EBANON, N.H. %u2014 A lead researcher who spent 20 years developing the vaccine for humanpapilloma virus says the HPV vaccine is not for younger girls, and that it is "silly" for states to be mandating it for them.

    Not only that, she says it''s not been tested for effectiveness in younger girls, and administering the vaccine to girls as young as 9 may not even protect them at all. And, in the worst-case scenario, instead of serving to reduce the numbers of cervical cancers within 25 years, such a vaccination crusade actually could cause the numbers to go up.

    "Giving it to 11-year-olds is a great big public health experiment," said Diane M. Harper, who is a scientist, physician, professor and the director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire.

    "It is silly to mandate vaccination of 11- to 12-year-old girls There also is not enough evidence gathered on side effects to know that safety is not an issue."
    Reply to this comment
    by rowlante January 26, 2008 2:58 PM PST
    Your story about the shingles vaccine left out a few key details. In the story, Dr. LaPook describes the vaccine as "effective." However, it is really only about 55% effective in preventing shingles. Compared to other vaccines that have 90% or greater efficacy, that is terrible. Also, you mentioned that doctors aren''t familiar with it so they aren''t offering it to their patients. However, the vast majority of patients for whom the vaccine is indicated are insured by medicare. Medicare will not pay for the cost of the vaccine. Therefore, patients will get stuck with a $230 bill if they choose to get the vaccine.

    I would love to have all my patients 60 and older receive the vaccine. However, after I let them know that it costs $230 and it''s only 55% effective, they usually decline.

    That is why only 2% of eligible adults have received the vaccine.
    Reply to this comment
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