DEAR DR. GOTT:
After reading your March column about Zostavax I had to write.
I was finally able to convince my mother to get the shingles vaccine but her doctor would only give her a prescription for it. He wouldn’t administer it because of the short window in which is has to be given.
Mom and I searched for weeks to find a health care provider who administered the vaccine. A local internist would administer it BUT only if my mother was able to get the vaccine and bring it to him. As you indicated, it must be kept frozen in order for it to be effective so I made several phone calls, wrote emails and even contacted the health reporter from one of our news stations in search of a provider of the vaccine. No one was able to help.
I finally contacted AARP who suggested I write to the CDC. They, in turn, recommended that I contact Merck who developed the vaccine. I went to the Merck website and was able to find a location, only 30 minutes away where the vaccine was sold and administered. It turned out that a nationally known supermarket, which contains a pharmacy, had the vaccine in stock. Across from the supermarket was a clinic where the vaccine could be given by a health care professional. I was very impressed by the pharmacist who wouldn’t give my mother the vaccine until he was certain that there was someone available in the clinic, right then, who would be able to administer it. The entire process took less than an hour and my mother’s insurance covered most of the cost.
The website to find a location is http://www.merck.com/product/mav/home.html. You need to put in your home zip code and it will bring up locations that provide Merck vaccines. I understand how difficult it is for some people to get the vaccine and I hope that this helps make it easier for them.
DEAR READER:
When I first mentioned the shingles vaccine, I had no idea that so many people would have trouble getting it. Most physicians seem to be unwilling to administer it because it has such a small viability window.
I am printing your letter in the hopes that it will help those interested in getting the vaccine. Thanks for passing along this invaluable information.
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