Shingles vaccine is hard to come by due to nationwide shortage

The new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is supposed to be 90 percent effective, but people living in Southwest Florida say they can’t find it.

The new vaccine has been in short supply since this summer and patients report waiting six months or longer for the shot.

The company making the vaccine says it has increased production.

But one Estero woman who has already had the viral infection is afraid it will come back if she doesn’t get the vaccine by January 3.

“Because I had shingles, I think I’m more frightened than anyone else,” Suzane Pellar said.

She had shingles 10 years ago. It’s a painful rash that affects people who have had chicken pox.

Pellar and her husband have been trying to get the new two-part Shingrix vaccine to prevent it from coming back. They’ve been on a waiting list for the second part of the vaccine since September.

Archana Yamsani, a pharmacist at San Carlos Pharmacy, hears patient frustrations firsthand.

“It’s very hard, but it’s not our fault,” Yamsani said.

She said Shingrix didn’t anticipate the demand for the new vaccine, which it claims is more than 90 percent effective.

WINK News asked the company that makes the vaccine what is behind the shortage.

In an email, they said  “Shingrix has been met by unprecedented demand by healthcare providers and patients.”

They also say they’ve increased the number of shipments this month. But the Pellars are still waiting.

“And we’ve been checking every week wherever we go. Costco, Publix, CVS, and nothing,” Bob Pellar said.

Hoping that supply catches up to demand before they catch the virus.

“We’re in the United States, and we’re unable to get something that was supposedly available,” Suzane said.

As doctors say, more than a third of Americans can expect to get the disease.