P.E.I. expands eligibility for free shingles vaccine
More Prince Edward Islanders are now eligible for a free shingles vaccine after the province lowered the age of eligibility by 10 years.
Effective immediately, Islanders aged 50 and over can book an appointment for the Shingrix Vaccine by contacting a P.E.I. community pharmacy.
For best protection, the province says two lifetime doses are required, given between two and six months apart.
The cost of the vaccine for residents aged 50 and up is covered by the provincial government.
“This improvement makes our shingles vaccine program the most comprehensive in the country and represents a major step forward in our commitment to the health and well-being of Islanders,” said Health and Wellness Minister Mark McLane in a news release.
“By lowering the age eligibility, we are providing more residents with access to this important preventive measure, helping to reduce the overall impact of shingles across our province.”
Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.
It’s estimated 30 per cent of adults will develop shingles in their lifetime and 10 per cent will develop lingering and debilitating nerve pain, according to the province’s release.
"Expanding the eligibility of government-funded shingles vaccine to include those 50 to 59 years of age is welcomed news,” said Erin MacKenzie, executive director of the PEI Pharmacists Association. “Pharmacists are routinely asked about the shingles vaccine by people in this age group who are looking for ways to prevent this potentially debilitating condition.”
More information about the shingles vaccine can be found online.
For more Prince Edward Island news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates: Category 5 Hurricane Milton approaches Florida coast
Hurricane Milton is a Category 5 storm forecast to bring extreme flooding, high winds and heavy rain to the central west coast of Florida.
COVID-19 may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths for three years after an infection, study suggests
COVID-19 could be a powerful risk factor for heart attacks and strokes for as long as three years after an infection, a large new study suggests.
NEW Freeland announces new actions to encourage building of secondary suites, more homes
The federal government introduced a number of measures related to housing on Tuesday, which include measures for homeowners wanting to add a secondary suite, taxing vacant land and building homes in place of underused federal properties.
'A cause for concern': Canadian universities slip down world ranking list
An organization that ranks the best universities across the globe says its latest report shows a concerning trend that several of Canada’s institutions are slipping down its list.
Andrew Garfield shares the gift he's discovered in grieving his mother
Andrew Garfield’s ability to so lovingly and poetically express his grief for his mother, Linda, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2019, offers a gift of connection, and, perhaps, catharsis, to anyone experiencing loss.
Time to evacuate is running out as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida
Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.
What women should know about their breasts, according to a doctor
One in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, with 42,000 women dying every year from this cancer.
B.C. man convicted of killing neighbour's chihuahua to protect his chickens
A British Columbia provincial court judge says a Boston Bar man who shot a teacup Chihuahua named Bear claiming it was menacing his chickens was not justified in killing the animal.
Liberals considering proroguing Parliament amid document impasse? Freeland says 'no'
The minority Liberal government is not considering proroguing Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday, despite persisting uncertainty over who is willing to keep propping them up and procedural wrangling over a Conservative led-privilege debate.