By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The Livingston County Health Department is now offering the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is recommended for people 50 years old and older.

Health Education and Marketing Director Erin Fogarty explains what the shingles virus is and how it affects a person.

“Shingles is really kind of the one two punch of viruses. Anybody who had chicken pox when they were children, the virus goes and it retreats into the body and lies dormant and later on in life, should we have a compromised immune system, then that zoster virus rears its ugly head and then it turns into shingles. Chicken pox starts out as what everybody knows as itchy blisters and shingles unfortunately is this sharp, blistering pain,” Fogarty said.

Nurse Practitioner Jackie Dever explains that the former vaccine, Zostavax, wasn’t working and the new one is much better.

“It’s different from the Zostavax. The Zostavax vaccine was a live vaccine, so we had to be very careful who we gave that to. Anyone with any immune system problems would not be able to take it. But this is a dead virus so it’s like most of the other vaccines we give, for instance, flu and pneumonia, are the same types of vaccines. But the other exciting thing about Shingrix is that it’s very effective for a long term. The studies are showing 90 percent plus effectiveness in people who are 50 and older and especially as you get up into your 70s and 80s, the old vaccine was pretty much useless, but this one is extremely effective, even in your 70s, 80s, and 90s,” Dever said.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact the health department at 844-7174.