Welcome to the website of Dr. Thomas J.W. Bering, M.D and Dr. Richard C. Weiermiller, Jr., M.D., members of Prism Medical Group, a division of Arcturus Healthcare, PLC. We are Board Certified Physicians specializing in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, treating patients from birth to adulthood. It is our goal to provide you with the best healthcare possible. Please browse our site to get helpful information about our practice and tips for your health. Thank you!
Find out more about Arcturus by clicking the above logo.
Covid-19 Vaccine Update
In order to provide our patients with the most up to date information Arcturus Healthcare has assembled a team of your Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, and Practice Managers to help bring information to you. We have designed a plan of action to best meet our patient population while following evidenced based guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to guidelines being updated frequently, we ask that you first visit our website www.prismmedicalgroup.com for vaccination information prior to calling the office.
Along with area Health Departments, pharmacies, including Meijer and Rite Aid are now offering vaccines. We are recommending the vaccine for our patients. You can go to the various websites and sign up online to get on the wait list.
Thank you for your cooperation!
VIDEO VISITS
Due to the outbreak of Covid19 in our area we are increasing the use of Video Visits. We are asking patients with suspected symptoms or known exposure to make virtual visit appointments so we can keep our waiting room and office from becoming infected. Please call our office so we can assess whether this is an option for you. If you have a smart phone, the Doctors are now using Doximity and will issue you an invitation.You simply accept the invitation and intiate the visit.
Face Masks are REQUIRED to be worn in our Office at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.
Learn More from the CDC
What is coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). They can infect humans and animals and can be transmitted between animals and people. Several coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections. The most prevalant and rapidly spreading contagious virus at this time is Covid-19.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). They can infect humans and animals and can be transmitted between animals and people. Several coronaviruses can cause respiratory infections. The most prevalant and rapidly spreading contagious virus at this time is Covid-19.
What is COVID-19?
An infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. In most people, it causes mild illness. However, a fraction of cases are severe.
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads through small water droplets from the nose or mouth of people who have the virus. How can you protect yourself and loved ones?
The CDC recommends the following:
An infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. In most people, it causes mild illness. However, a fraction of cases are severe.
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads through small water droplets from the nose or mouth of people who have the virus. How can you protect yourself and loved ones?
The CDC recommends the following:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home if you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and for at least 20 seconds especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
- To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places–elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
Watch for symptoms and emergency warning signs:
- Pay attention for potential COVID-19 symptoms including fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, call your doctor.
- If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. In adults, emergency warning signs include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Bluish lips or face
- New confusion or inability to arouse
What should you do if you get sick?
- Stay home. Going out may infect others. Avoid other household members, too.
- If possible, wear a face mask and practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often and disinfect surfaces.
- If you need treatment, call ahead. Do not go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care. Please allow your doctor to prepare for your visit or contact you with advice.
- If you are experiencing symtptoms or are at risk, so we can minimize the risk to other patients in the office, we are opening up appointment times for virutal visits. Call the office to get more information on how to get access.
And of course consult your health care team for other tips on preventing the spread of COVID-19.
FIND OUT MORE
If you need care urgently, and we are not available, we advise you visit DocNow Urgent Care* for quality care provided by an Arcturus Healthcare Doctor.
DocNow Urgent Care now allows patients to reserve their spot in line ahead of time with ClockWiseMD! From the PRISM website, www.prismmedicalgroup.com you can click on urgent care, which will take you to the DocNow website. There, you can click on “Online Reservation Request“ to reserve a spot in line at a specified time. You can also reserve your spot by clicking on the ClockwiseMD link above. It will display current estimated wait times for walk-ins. Check it out and reserve your spot in line!
DocNow is located at:
WellPointe Building
1701 East South Boulevard, Suite 150 (just west of Dequindre)
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
WellPointe Building
1701 East South Boulevard, Suite 150 (just west of Dequindre)
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
*DocNow is a department of Arcturus Healthcare, PLC
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country and the world, we all must remain vigilant. The changes we have had to make to routines and daily life are extremely hard, but these changes are even more important now and in the future. We must stop the spread of this new and dangerous virus. The more steps you and your family can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the safer you will be.
Three Important Ways to Slow the Spread
- Wear a mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about two arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you, particularly in crowded areas.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
How to Protect Yourself When Going Out
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others.
- Choose a mask with two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric that fits snugly against the sides of your face.
- Stay 6 feet apart and avoid crowds.
- The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19.
- Avoid indoor spaces as much as possible, particularly ones that aren’t well ventilated.
- You may find it harder to stay 6 feet apart in indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often.
- Use soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
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Spring is almost here!
March 2021
Our office is located on the northeast corner of South Boulevard and John R Road, just one mile west of William Beaumont Hospital and its ancillary services.
OUR ADDRESS:
Executive Place
1055 East South Boulevard Suite 220
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
OUR PHONE NUMBERS:
(248)817-2230
(248) 817-2891 (fax)
Prism Medical Group
WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE!
We are Board Certified Physicians specializing in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. We see patients from birth to adulthood.
We look foward to caring for you and your family and encourage you to take an active part in your medical treatment plan.
Do you know someone looking for a new physician? If you like our practice please let others know. We are always accepting new patients and appreciate word of mouth and patient referrals. Thank you!
Questions are always welcome!
WE HAVE FLU SHOTS !
The flu season is HERE!
Stay healthy this winter
GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!
GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!
Fight the flu-call for an appointment today!
Why get a flu shot?
Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death Each year in the U.S., more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications. Over the last 31 flu seasons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates annual deaths ranging from a low of 3,000 to a high of 49,000 people.
The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses and its complications. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. During recent flu seasons, between 80% and 90% of flu related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older.
Flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating at higher levels in the U.S. population. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. A flu vaccine is needed every year because flu viruses are constantly changing. It’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear annually, which is why the flu vaccine is reformulated each year to keep up with the flu viruses as they change.
When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.
DID YOU SWITCH TO AN HMO?
PLEASE BE SURE TO SELECT US AS YOUR DOCTORS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.
We will not able able to see you if we are not listed as your primary care physician. Call your insurance company to verify this.
Also, HMO's generally require a referral from the Doctor prior to seeing a specialist. Referrals take 7-10 days to process, so please call our office BEFORE you make an appointment to see a specialist. Find out more under Referrals on the Our Practice Tab.
THANK YOU!
KEEP SAFE & HEALTHY THIS WINTER SEASON
Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.
- Take everyday preventive actions that are always recommended to reduce the spread of flu.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing rub.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu.
- For flu, CDC recommends that people stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine.
- In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments or public health departments may recommend additional precautions be taken in your community. Follow those instructions.
ATTENTION PATIENTS WHO ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER:
We now carry the High Dose Flu Vaccine.
It is the first flu vaccine specially formulated for people 65 years and older. As you get older, your immune system weakens. Therefore, you don't have as high an antibody response after receiving the traditional flu vaccine to help your body fight off the flu. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is made for people 65+ to help promote a stronger immune response to the flu than a regular flu shot. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine has 4 times the antigen of a regular flu shot for a stronger immune response to the flu. This helps protect those 65+ from the flu and the dangerous complications that can come with it.
Flu complications can be especially devastating when you're 65 or older. Up to 90% of flu-related deaths and 60% of flu-related hospitalizations in the U.S. occur in people 65 or older. That's why it's important to take extra precautions to help protect yourself. So what can you do? Get vaccinated. It's the best way to help protect yourself from the flu virus and its complications.
Fluzone High-Dose vaccine may be covered with no co-payment or deductible under Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and private insurance policies.
It is the first flu vaccine specially formulated for people 65 years and older. As you get older, your immune system weakens. Therefore, you don't have as high an antibody response after receiving the traditional flu vaccine to help your body fight off the flu. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is made for people 65+ to help promote a stronger immune response to the flu than a regular flu shot. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine has 4 times the antigen of a regular flu shot for a stronger immune response to the flu. This helps protect those 65+ from the flu and the dangerous complications that can come with it.
Flu complications can be especially devastating when you're 65 or older. Up to 90% of flu-related deaths and 60% of flu-related hospitalizations in the U.S. occur in people 65 or older. That's why it's important to take extra precautions to help protect yourself. So what can you do? Get vaccinated. It's the best way to help protect yourself from the flu virus and its complications.
Fluzone High-Dose vaccine may be covered with no co-payment or deductible under Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and private insurance policies.
Speak to your Doctor about wheter the High Dose Flu Vaccine is right for you.
PROUD MEMBERS OF
BEAUMONT HEALTH SYSTEM
go to mybeaumontchart.com
HAVE YOU ACTIVATED YOUR myBEAUMONTCHART?
View your medical information online from anywhere through Beaumont's myBeaumontchart electronic medical record.
Receive test results online
Review your medication
Review after visit summaries and discharge summaries
Access up to date health information
Now you can request proxy access for children and family members
Stay in touch and communicate with your physician.
Manage appointment and Hospital bills.
You can even request your Prescription Refills!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
SIGN UP TODAY AT:
(click here)
Or ask at our Front Desk!
Expecting
a Baby?
Congratulations!
Having a baby is a very exciting and rewarding experience! Choosing a pediatrician to care for your baby is an important decision. We hope you will consider our Practice when it comes time to make that choice. We are committed to providing excellent care to your child, from birth through adulthood and take great pride in providing the highest quality comprehensive care in a compassionate, friendly yet professional environment.
We are Board Certified Physicians specializing in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. As “MedPeds” Doctors, we completed a residency in both fields and are Board Certified to practice in both specialties. Our practice offers you a unique opportunity to provide your child with a physician who can continue to care for him or her throughout their life.
We still see and care for our patients at the Hospital, so we will be there for you and your new baby from the very first day.
In order to better familiarize yourself with our practice as you make this decision, we encourage you to make an appointment to meet with us at the office to answer any questions and learn about the services we offer.
We look forward to developing a relationship with you and your family to provide lifelong excellent care for all your medical needs.
Schedule your “prenatal consult" Meet and Greet with one of our physicians today by calling our office at
(248) 817-2230
Visit Here to download the guide
VACCINES SAVE LIVES!
DON'T PUT YOUR YOUR BABY OR CHILD AT RISK-VACCINATE TODAY!
Vaccines given to infants and young children over the past two decades will prevent 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Doubts about vaccines safety and fading memories of vaccine-preventable diseases have contributed to a resurgence of nearly forgotten diseases such as measles, which was officially declared eradicated in the USA in 2000.
Numerous studies have debunked the notion that vaccines cause autism or other chronic diseases. Factual evidence shows that vaccines are some of the safest medications available, but rumors and conspiracy theories still spread.
Please speak to your Doctor if you have any questions or concerns about Vaccines. We follow AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidelines and recommendatons for vaccines.
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WELCOME TO OUR
PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL
HOME
Learn More:
MARCH IS National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If you’re 50 years old or older, get your colonoscopy!
Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it. But this disease is highly preventable, by getting screened beginning at age 50.
Screening tests including a colonoscopy, help prevent colorectal cancer by finding precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) so they can be removed. Screening also finds this cancer early, when treatment can be most effective.
What You Can Do
• If you’re aged 50 to 75, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re between 76 and 85, ask your doctor if you should be screened.
• Be physically active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol.
• Don’t smoke.
Fast Facts
• Risk increases with age. More than 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people aged 50 and older.
• Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. If you have symptoms, they may include—
o Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
o Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
o Losing weight and you don’t know why.
• Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. If you think you may be at high risk, talk to your doctor about when and how often to get tested.
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If you’re 50 years old or older, get your colonoscopy!
Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it. But this disease is highly preventable, by getting screened beginning at age 50.
Screening tests including a colonoscopy, help prevent colorectal cancer by finding precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) so they can be removed. Screening also finds this cancer early, when treatment can be most effective.
What You Can Do
• If you’re aged 50 to 75, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re between 76 and 85, ask your doctor if you should be screened.
• Be physically active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol.
• Don’t smoke.
Fast Facts
• Risk increases with age. More than 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people aged 50 and older.
• Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. If you have symptoms, they may include—
o Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
o Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
o Losing weight and you don’t know why.
• Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. If you think you may be at high risk, talk to your doctor about when and how often to get tested.
Eat Right
Food, Nutrition and Health Tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
12 Health Tips for 2021
12 Health Tips for 2021
Go further with food by incorporating these food, nutrition and physical activity tips.
1) Eat Breakfast
Start your morning with a healthy breakfast that includes lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
2) Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and fiber to your plate.
3) Watch Portion Sizes
Get out the measuring cups and see how close your portions are to the recommended serving size.
4) Be Active
Regular physical activity has so many health benefits. Start by doing what exercise you can for at least 10 minutes at a time.
5) Fix Healthy Snacks
Healthy snacks can sustain your energy levels between meals, especially when they include a combination of foods.
6) Get to Know Food Labels
Reading the Nutrition Facts panel can help you shop and eat or drink smarter.
7) Drink More Water
Quench your thirst with water instead of drinks with added sugars. Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
8) Get Cooking
Preparing foods at home can be healthy, rewarding and cost-effective..
9) Dine Out without Ditching Your Goals
You can eat out and stick to your healthy eating plan! The key is to plan ahead, ask questions and choose foods carefully.
10) Enact Family Meal Time
Plan to eat as a family at least a few times each week. Set a regular mealtime. Turn off the TV, phones and other electronic devices to encourage mealtime talk.
11) Cut Back on Added Sugars
Foods and drinks with added sugars can contribute empty calories and little or no nutrition.
12) Experiment with More Plant-Based Meals
Expand the variety in your menus with budget-friendly meatless meals. Many recipes that use meat and poultry can be made without.
Ask your Doctor For a referral to see our On-Staff Registered Dietitian
Diabetes Risk Test
Diabetes Alert Day
American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day® is on March 23, 2020! Observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call” that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk. We encourage you to find out if you – or someone you love – is at risk for type 2 diabetes by taking this quick and simple Diabetes Risk Test.
Did You Know?
• Diabetes affects about 30.3 million Americans or about 9.4 percent of the U.S. population.
• Nearly 1 in 4 adults living with diabetes, or 7.2 million Americans, are unaware that they have the disease.
• Another 84 million Americans have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
• Nine out of 10 adults with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/risktest/index.html
MARCH IS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH
FIND OUT IF YOUR AT RISK
NEWLY DIAGNOSED? NEED TREAMENT?
WANT TO HELP?
Get the facts here
Meningococcal Meningitis can spread quickly, and teenagers and young adults are at greatest risk.
Is your teen going off to college soon? Have they received their Menactra Booster? As you are busy checking off the dorm supply list make sure to add getting the vaccine to your to-do list.
So what is meningitis? Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective layer around the brain and spinal cord.This inflammation can be caused by a virus, a bacterium, or even a fungus.
- Viral meningitis is the most common form. It is serious but generally not life threatening, and it usually goes away in 7 to 10 days.
- Bacterial meningitis is rare, but it is very serious and potentially fatal. It includes meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease, can progress quickly. It can make an infant or teenager very sick and may even be life threatening. Meningococcal disease spreads just like the flu, passing from person to person through everyday activities. Some people carrying the bacteria never get sick, so they might pass it to others without knowing.
According to the CDC, teenagers and young adults are most likely to get meningitis. Research has shown that the following activities put teenagers and young adults at greater risk:
- Living in close quarters, such as college dormitories
- Being in crowded situations for prolonged periods of time (such as locker rooms)
- Sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils
- Kissing
- Staying out late and having irregular sleeping patterns, which weakens the immune system.
Meningococcal meningitis symptoms
Meningococcal meningitis can be difficult to diagnose because its most common symptoms – fever, headache, and muscle pain – may be similar to those of influenza (flu). The symptoms of meningitis can occur suddenly and include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Stiff neck or other muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Rash
- Seizures
Meningococcal disease is rare. But just how serious is it? Did you know that:
- Up to 1 in 5 survivors suffer brain damage, amputations, kidney damage, and more
- As many as 1 in 8 people who get the disease die from it
- The disease can kill a child in just 24 hours
If your child has symptoms – especially if they’ve been around someone with meningitis – contact a doctor immediately. When it comes to treating this potentially deadly disease, speed is essential.
Don’t take chances with meningitis. You can’t monitor everything your kids do. But you can help protect your child against meningococcal disease and its potentially deadly complications with Menactra vaccine. Menactra is a safe and effective vaccine that helps protect against meningococcal disease.
Your child should receive their first Menactra vaccination at age 11 through 12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 through 18 years. Talk to your doctor to see if your child has been vaccinated or needs a booster or for any questions you may have.
* information courtesy of www.menactra.com
learn more here
THE FACTS ABOUT HPV MAY SURPRISE YOU
WHAT IS HPV?
IT’S ABOUT CANCER. IT’S ABOUT DISEASES. AND IT CAN BE SERIOUS.
If you haven’t heard about the risks of HPV-related cancers and disease yet, it’s time you did. HPV (short for human papillomavirus) is a virus that can infect both males and females and cause potentially serious diseases.
As a parent, you know it’s important to have a healthy diet and regular checkups at the doctor’s office, but you may not know that exposure to HPV can put your child at risk for HPV-related cancers and diseases later in life.
There are approximately 14 million new HPV infections in the United States every year — about 50% of them in 15- to 24-year-olds. For most, HPV clears on its own. But, for others who don’t clear the virus, HPV could cause potentially serious diseases. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict who will or won’t clear the virus. Understanding HPV and its possible consequences is the first step in helping your child be one less at risk for certain HPV-related cancers and diseases.
THE FACTS DON’T LIE
Currently, there are about 79 million Americans infected with HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year, 14 million new infections occur in the United States and about half of the newly infected people are 15 to 24 years old.
Please speak to your Doctor about getting your teen the Gardasil Vaccine.
Get the Facts-Protect their future!
For more info go to https://www.gardasil9.com/
Learn More Here
DID YOU KNOW?
A new recommended vaccine to fight Shingles is now available for adults 50 years and older!
What You Need to Know About Shingles and the Shingles Vaccine
Shingles is a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and clears up within 2 to 4 weeks. Some people describe the pain as an intense burning sensation. For some people, the pain can last for months or even years after the rash goes away. This long-lasting pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and it is the most common complication of shingles. Your risk of getting shingles and PHN increases as you get older.
In the U.S., currently 1 million people get shingles every year, and about one out of every three people will get shingles in their lifetime. Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body and can reactivate years later and cause shingles.
A new shingles vaccine called Shingrix was licensed by the FDA in 2017. CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of Shingrix, 2 to 6 months apart. Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax®, a shingles vaccine in use since 2006.
Even people who have had shingles or previously got Zostavax can be vaccinated with Shingrix to prevent shingles and the complications caused by the disease.
To learn more speak to your Doctor