Watchdog: July 29, 2012

Driving through Connecticut, I see more and more signs for shingles vaccinations advertised in front of pharmacies. While my eyes see the signs, my mind sees a long needle.

After two of my friends came down with shingles and told me in detail the pain they went through, the vaccination won out.

As a Costco member (and a huge fan of Costco and its employees), I decided to get my shot there, in the Enfield store.

Rob Trimani, the pharmacy manager, has given hundreds of shingle vaccinations over the last two years he has offered it. A sensitive man, Rob promised it wouldn't hurt.

I was warned that I needed to set aside 40 minutes, as the vaccine is frozen and needs to be thawed out - thank God. It is a live virus. By the way, anyone can use the Costco Pharmacy. You don't have to be a member. They have the best prices for most medication.

But it did, especially when I had to shell out $191 as my health insurer - United Health - refused to cover the vaccination.

The actual shot - could not feel it. Didn't even know when I got it because, being a huge wimp, I refused to look. I can't even watch someone on TV getting a shot or having blood drawn.

Instead of going into a muscle, the vaccination goes into a fatty area. Rob - a regular Henry Kissinger - told me I had very little fat in my right arm to work with. Looking to the left, he could have found a lot more.

There was no reaction at the shot site, and I was good to go.

So now let me tell you why you should get a shingles vaccination - especially if you hit 60 and had chicken pox.

Not only is shingles painful, but it can last for months and for years. Once you get it, shingles can come back. My friends, one in his 50s and the other in his high 80s, attest to it.

And considering that one out of three people will get shingles and for one out of five it will never go away, one shot is a wise decision.

"Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso," says the Mayo clinic.

"Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles."

"While it isn't a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful. Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles, while early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications."

"Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash," says the Mayo Clinic.

"Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face."

If the rash or pain occurs near an eye, it can lead to permanent eye damage.

Rob suggested I appeal United Health's refusal to pay for the vaccination. You may want to be better prepared and have your doctor contact your carrier and apply pressure for coverage.

Also, check around. The price for one shot - that is all you need - can be higher than $800.

You can reach The Watchdog at george@ctwatchdog.com and he will answer for free as many emails as he can. Check out his site, www.ctwatchdog.com for comprehensive consumer, health, finance, shopping, nutrition, elderly issues, media, internet, computer, travel, auto, and education tips.