PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is offering the Shingles vaccine free of charge, for a limited time, to uninsured or under-insured people, 50 years of age and older.
While supplies last, Shingles vaccines are available at the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic located at 3441 Forbes Avenue in Oakland. No appointment is necessary; however, individuals are asked to call 412-578-8062 in advance to ensure supplies are still available.
Clinic hours are as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Shingles is a painful skin rash, often with blisters, caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles because the virus remains in the nerve cells of the body after chickenpox goes away, but it can reappear many years later causing Shingles.
The risk of getting Shingles begins to increase around the age of 50. Anyone that age or older should get the vaccine, regardless of whether they recall having chickenpox. Studies show 99% of individuals 40 and older have had chickenpox.
People who have already had Shingles can still receive the vaccine to prevent future occurrences of the disease. The vaccine reduces the risk of developing Shingles by more than 50%, and it reduces the risk of pain after the rash by 67%.
