On Oct. 25, however, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control announced its unanimous approval of a new vaccine, made by Merck & Co. and marketed under the name Zostavax. Intended presently for people over 60, a single injection has been proven effective in cutting at least by half the chances of a shingles outbreak or lessening its effects if there is a shingles attack.

If any of us developed shingles over five years, the VA guaranteed free treatment. I did not know until the study was over that I had received a placebo. In February, VA researchers gave me the vaccine made from the live chicken-pox virus. There was no adverse reaction, but not until the CDC approval could I write about it and recommend that readers over 60 seek doctors' advice on getting the vaccine.

[Barbara Cebuhar] notes that many states permit pharmacies to administer the vaccine. But it may be a problem getting a doctor's prescription for a vaccine he or she will not administer. And many states prohibit druggists from administering the vaccine, which can produce rare side effects for which a pharmacist may not be prepared.