Vaccines After 65: Staying Safe, Covered and Up to Date

With flu season back around, it’s important to get caught up with your vaccines.

The National Institute on Ageing recommends individuals 65+ follow the following vaccination schedule^[1]

• COVID-19 (1 Dose/year)
• Influenza (1 Dose/year)
• Pneumococcal (Pneumonia) (1 Dose/year)
• RSV (1 Dose/year)
• Shingles (2 Dose/year)
• Tetanus & Diphtheria (1 Dose every 10 years)

As a BC resident, majority of the aforementioned vaccinations are covered through provincial funding^[1]. However RSV and Shingles are not, requiring private funding^[1].

For BCRTA members on the Dogwood EHC plan, shingles, RSV and other non-provincially funded vaccines are covered up to $100 per calendar year^[2].

Should you get the Shingles Shot?

Individuals above 50 years of age are recommended to receive the Shingrix® shingles vaccine^[3].

This includes individuals who:

• have had shingles in the past^[3].
• have received a live virus shingles vaccine more than a year ago^[3].
  • Individuals who have received a live virus shingles vaccine should wait at least a year before receiving a Shingrix® vaccine^[3].
• are unsure weather they have had chickenpox (varicella) infection in the past^[3].

90% of cases of shingles are prevented in vaccinated adults 50 years and older (70-90% in the immunocompromised)^[3].

How do I receive a Shingles Shot?

Contact your local pharmacy. You can buy the shingles vaccine at most pharmacies and travel clinics^[3]. The vaccine is given as a series of 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart, and costs about $160 per dose^[3].