Shingles Awareness Week, February 24-March 2, is a key time in CARP’s (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) calendar, as it should be for health minded Canadians in every province.

 

Each year, over 90,000 people in this country have to deal with the consequences of an excruciating disease that is highly preventable. Two shots of Shingrix over a two to six month period is 90% effective at preventing shingles,  which causes the varicella-zoster virus—the same as chickenpox—to invade the bodies of senior citizens or younger people with weakened immune systems. A very painful rash ensues which can last for weeks. Not only are shingles agonizing to endure when active, but many people suffer from post-herpetic neuralgia afterward, which creates nerve damage for months or longer.

 

Too few Canadians know that 90% of us carry the virus that causes shingles although only 7% are likely to get it. The statistics are alarming enough for the National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) to recommend that everyone over the age of 50 take the shots. Despite these valid medical concerns, less than 50% of us have been immunized against shingles. It’s a figure that should—and must—change in the future.

 

Free funding for seniors to be vaccinated against shingles has been increasing in recent years. Ontario, Alberta, Yukon, Prince Edward Island, Québec offer shots for seniors as does the First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia, federal government programs for First Nations and Inuit peoples, veterans, and those in custody. It’s important to realise that vaccinations that aren’t funded through governmental agencies or a private insurer cost approximately $190 per shot.

 

In the throne speech recently delivered by Mike Savage, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, he promised that shots for shingles will be delivered free of charge for all citizens 65 years and older. It’s part of a program that has already opened a new medical school in Cape Breton and created over 2200 more long-term care beds in the province.

 

CARP endorses Nova Scotia’s health care initiatives, and hopes that all provinces that haven’t already, will offer free vaccinations to their senior citizens. While applauding the promises from a key Eastern province, CARP believes that it’s time for B.C.’s Premier David Eby,  out west, to look at its shingles program.

 

CARP’s Advocacy Officer, Emeritus, Bill VanGorder, has written to Premier Eby, on behalf of the association’s B.C. members, urging the government to implement a more inclusive shingles prevention program for British Columbia seniors as part of its upcoming provincial budget. 

 

VanGorder wrote: “The recent statement by the province’s Health Minister acknowledges that shingles is “an issue that we’re seriously looking at and looking to bring change” is encouraging. This is a crucial time when the importance of vaccines has been underscored by the pandemic.

 

“While it’s heartening to see that steps have already been taken to offer the Shingrix vaccination at no cost to First Nations Elders aged 60 and older, this policy exposes a glaring inequity: why are other seniors in BC left to fend for themselves. The government cannot pick and choose which seniors are deserving of protection from a debilitating illness. This patchwork approach to healthcare only deepens the divide and leaves far too many seniors vulnerable.

 

“While the provincial government is ‘seriously considering’ a shingles prevention program for seniors in BC, many seniors’ quality of life is going down. Time for consideration is long past. Seniors in this province deserve action, not empty promises and delayed decisions…

 

“Twenty-thousand CARP members–seniors from across the province–urge the government to act swiftly on these recommendations and implement a province-wide shingles vaccination program for all seniors. It’s time to turn words into action and demonstrate our commitment to the health and well-being of our older citizens.

 

“Premier Eby, seniors deserve basic healthcare. These are the people who have worked hard to build this province, and they deserve leadership, action and respect. Expanding the shingles vaccination program to include all seniors in BC is a critical first step to proving your government values its aging population…The time to act is now!”