Community Corner

Public Health Offers Shingles Vaccine

The Paulding County Health Department is now offering the shingles vaccine Zostavax.

The shingles is a painful, localized skin rash caused by the chicken pox virus (varicella zoster). Anyone who has had the chickenpox can develop shingles. The virus remains in the nerve cells of the body after the chickenpox infection clears and can reappear years later causing shingles. Since the majority of older Americans had chickenpox as children, millions of people are vulnerable to shingles.

The CDC currently recommends Zostavax (shingles vaccine) as a single dose for persons age 60 and older, even if they have already had the shingles.

According to Paulding County Health Department Nurse Manager, Teresa Knight, “anyone wanting information about the shingles vaccine can call the Paulding County Health Department at 770-443-7881. You may also stop by the health department, 451 Jimmy Campbell Parkway.  Shots are given everyday without an appointment, Monday through Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.”

Find out what's happening in Dallas-Hiramwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Many insurance plans, including Medicare Part D, offer coverage for this vaccine. Persons wanting the vaccine must be age 60 or older and should have their insurance information available when calling. “We will advise them of any co-pay or out-of-pocket cost associated with the shingles vaccine,” Knight said. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Dallas-Hiram