U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill intended to help give more senior citizens access to shingles vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all seniors over 60 receive the shingles vaccine. But Capito spokeswoman Ashley Berrang said only about a quarter of seniors get vaccinated because of high out-of-pocket Medicare costs.

But the Protecting Seniors through Immunization Act, sponsored by Capito and U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, provides the shingles vaccine free of charge for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and improves outreach on the importance of getting vaccinated, Berrang said.

“With roughly one million new cases emerging across the country each year, it is important that West Virginians have access to treatment that protects against shingles,” Capito said. “I’m glad to partner with Sen. Hirono to introduce this bill, which will make it easier for seniors, who face a greater risk of battling this painful disease, to receive the vaccines they need.”

“Seniors in Hawaii and across the country, including millions on a fixed income, deserve the protection from the shingles virus regardless of their ability to pay for a vaccine. This bill, which I am proud to introduce with Sen. Capito, provides these seniors access to the shingles vaccine without having to worry about high out of pocket costs," said Hirono.

The Protecting Seniors through Immunization Act, S.3477, is supported by 23 organizations including the American College of Preventative Medicine, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians, Berrang said.

“The Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC) endorses the shingles prevention act, which would eliminate out-of-pocket shingles vaccine costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and ensure that they receive important information about Medicare vaccine coverage,” said Laura Hanson, co-chair of AVAC. “Less than 30 percent of Americans over the age of 60 have received a shingles vaccine; this bill addresses two of the biggest barriers—cost and lack of awareness—that prevent more Americans from accessing it. As a diverse health coalition devoted exclusively to increasing adult vaccine rates, AVAC applauds senators Hirono and Capito for their leadership on this bill.