A vaccine to prevent shingles -- a painful and common skin rash -- has been available for more than two years, but few people reportedly are vaccinated.

The June issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource covers why this vaccine, Zostavax, is recommended for adults over age 60.

Nearly everyone in this age group has had chickenpox. And the virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster virus, remains dormant in the body's nerves. In some people, the virus can reactivate and travel along nerve endings to the skin. An estimated 20 to 30 percent of adults over 60 develop shingles.

Shingles usually appears as a blistering rash along one side of the trunk, chest, back or face. The condition is particularly dangerous on the face because it can affect the eye and lead to temporary or permanent blindness. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, a chronic pain that can be so severe people are willing to do just about anything to get rid of it.

The best medicine for shingles may be prevention. The Shingles Prevention Study, a large government-funded study, found that the vaccine prevented about 50 to 60 percent of shingles episodes in older adults. It also prevented about 70 percent of postherpetic neuralgia cases.

The vaccine, given in a single dose, is not appropriate for adults with weakened immune systems and those with allergies to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or any component of the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is an option for people who've had shingles and at least one year has passed since the last episode.

The vaccine costs can range from $150 to $300. Private insurance coverage varies. The vaccine is covered under the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

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