Bipartisan legislation introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) sought to make it easier for seniors to receive a vaccine to combat the shingles virus regardless of their ability to pay.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that seniors over age 60 receive a vaccine to prevent shingles, a painful rash that can cause serious complications in older adults. But due to high out-of-pocket Medicare costs, only about a quarter of seniors get vaccinated.
The Protecting Seniors through Immunization Act, S. 3477, provides free shingles vaccines for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and also improves awareness on the importance of getting vaccinated.
Capito joined with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to introduce the bill.
“With roughly one million new cases emerging across the country each year, it is important that West Virginians have access to treatment that protects against shingles,” Capito said.
Nearly one out of every three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime and about half of all cases affect men and women 60 years old or older, according to the CDC.
The Protecting Seniors through Immunization Act has drawn broad support and is endorsed by 23 organizations, including the American College of Preventative Medicine.