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January 2021

Manufacturer discontinues Zostavax shingles vaccine

Pharmaceutical company Merck announced it has discontinued the Zostavax® vaccine, a vaccine for the prevention of shingles in adults age 60 and older. All remaining product had an expiration date of November 2020, and Zostavax is no longer available for use in the United States.

On Dec. 1, 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network commercial pharmacy stopped covering the Zostavax vaccine. Pharmacy claims for Zostavax will reject at the point of sale as of Dec. 1, 2020.

Blue Cross and BCN will continue to offer the Shingrix® shingles prevention vaccine for adults age 50 and older.

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