Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, affects about 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. The skin condition occurs in people who are over 50 years and people who have had chickenpox are more at risk. Men and women who have weak immune systems are also prone to the skin condition. Till date there has not been a cure that is said to cure shingles 100%. Now, Merck has developed a vaccine called Zostavax that is effective in reducing the occurrence of shingles by almost 50 per cent and postherpetic neuralgia by 67 per cent.

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a. This is an injectable drug.
b. However, this drug does not make a person immune to shingles though it reduces the chances of getting it by half.
c. Side effects can be headaches and reactions at the injection site.
d. Zostavax is an expensive drug and costs $150 per dose.
e. There are some insurance companies who cover the drug.
f. Merck provides this drug free of cost to people with annual income below $19,600 or couples who earn $26,400 a year and to uninsured people.
g. Care should be taken to keep the medication Zostavax under sub-zero conditions till administered.