Don't Wait Until It Hurts

If you've had chickenpox, the virus that caused it is still inside your body. It’s called varicella zoster, and for many people, it stays hidden and harmless. But as we age—or when we’re run down by stress or illness—this virus can reawaken and cause shingles: a blistering, painful rash that attacks your nerves and disrupts your life.

Shingles isn’t just uncomfortable. For some, it’s excruciating. Patients often describe the pain as burning, stabbing, or shock-like. One customer at Norland Avenue Pharmacy shared, “It started with tingling and by day two I couldn’t stand my shirt touching my back. The pain was like nothing I’ve ever felt.”

That pain can last weeks. And for some, it never fully goes away—leading to a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, where the pain lingers long after the rash has healed.

The good news? There’s a vaccine that can help prevent all of this. It’s called Shingrix, and it’s recommended for anyone age 50 and older, even if you’ve already had shingles or got the older Zostavax vaccine in the past.

The Numbers Speak Loudly:

• 1 in 3 Americans will get shingles in their lifetime.

• The risk increases with age, especially after 50.

Shingrix is 97% effective in adults aged 50–69 and 91% effective in those 70 and older. It’s a two-dose vaccine, given two to six months apart.

Don’t Put It Off. Prevention Is Simple—Shingles Is Not.

Stop by Carl’s Drug Store and get your Shingrix vaccine today—no appointment, no hassle. Just protection and peace of mind.