Free shingles vaccines for N.S. seniors begin next week

Bill VanGorder says he and many people he knows didn't need convincing to get the shingles vaccine.

"Because we were just so worried about getting it," he said of the viral infection that can cause a painful, blistering and itchy rash.

"We've seen our friends and our relatives get shingles. So people who were fortunate enough to be able to pay for [the vaccine] did, but there's still a lot of people who are hesitating."

VanGorder, a member of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, was on hand Tuesday as Premier Tim Houston made good on an election promise that should remove any hesitation among seniors related to cost.

"The vaccine is often just out of reach financially for too many people," Houston said during a news conference in Clayton Park.

"We really want to make sure that we remove the barriers to maintain opportunities for people to be vaccinated and to be healthy and thriving."

Nova Scotians 65 and older can now book an appointment for a free shingles vaccine, with appointments beginning May 28. The vaccine, which comes in two doses, costs about $400. Appointments can be booked through a person's primary care provider or the health authority's online vaccine booking service.

The cost to the province of picking up the tab for seniors is estimated to be about $26 million this fiscal year.

There are some provinces that cover the cost of the vaccine beginning at a younger age. Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said the risk of a severe complication from shingles begins to increase at age 50, but it's age 65 where the rate of hospitalization as a result of those complications begins to increase.

"It's really a balance of where do we get the greatest benefit from the vaccine, knowing there's lots and lots of other priorities in the health-care system," he told reporters.

Removing barriers to accessing the vaccine helps prevent issues that can create added strain on the health-care system, said Strang. One in five seniors who get shingles also get postherpetic neuralgia, a painful condition that targets nerves. It can lead to a loss of function and increased frailty.

"The direct and indirect impacts of shingles can be quite significant in seniors," said Strang.

VanGorder said seniors are feeling "all kinds of financial pressures" and Tuesday's announcement eases a burden while allowing them to address a health concern.