Those nasty shingles

Transcona

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/04/2025 (373 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We have all heard the stories, about how so and so got shingles, it was bad, it was painful, and you don’t want to get it.

It is surprising how many people we know who have had this viral infection, once you start talking about it. Some of us headed straight for the pharmacy and rolled up our sleeves for the shots. But others have either not been so brave, could not afford it, have not heard of the vaccine or have other beliefs. The vaccine consists of two shots, administered a few months apart. The cost of the Shingrix vaccine is not covered by Manitoba Health and will set you back approximately $150 each. I am not going to lie; I think they were the most painful needles I have ever had. (Well, maybe that one time when we lined up at school to get a shot that left a permanent circle scar on my left arm was worse, but I think trauma has blacked that one out.)

I am grateful I chose to get vaccinated because we recently experienced first-hand what shingles can do to a person, especially an elderly person. It is a horrible experience and can change a person’s whole life. It can take several months or longer to recover from shingles, even longer for an elderly person. The blister sores are nasty and the pain is excruciating. There is no cure and the only relief available is pain killers and creams to ease the itching, but only after the sores have healed. The virus is also believed to be a dementia risk. We are hoping for a full recovery of our relative so they can get back to a normal active, independent life.

On April 5 and April 7, the Winnipeg Free Press published two articles included crucial information on the virus, vaccination information and pleas from people for the provincial government to start covering the cost of Shingrix in order to reduce the strain on the health-care system.

The risk of contracting shingles is one in three for over the age of 50, and one in two over the age of 65, which is pretty high. Those who may have received the first-generation shingles vaccine called Zostavax may need to update the vaccine with the newer, two-shot Shingrix. Consult your pharmacist or doctor for more information. If we band together and contact our MLAs and the health minister it may make a difference to having this vaccine available to all who want it.

You can write to health minister Uzoma Asagwara at:

Uzoma Asagwara

Minister’s Office,

302 Legislative Building,

450 Broadway,

Winnipeg, MB

R3C 0V8

Or you can email the minister’s office at: minhsltc@manitoba.ca