Ed Note: “Shingles, which is also called herpes zoster, occurs when the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster), which is dormant in those who’ve had the illness, reawakens later in life. Almost all adults over age 40 carry the chickenpox virus—and the older we get, the more the risk of getting shingles climbs. According to the CDC, the infection strikes about 1 million people in the U.S. each year and nearly one in three adults will experience a bout of shingles in their lifetime.” I’ve had a bout, but fortunately it responded rapidly to anti-viral meds.
The two to four weeks of shingles, marked by a blistery and painful rash on one side of the body, can be difficult enough. But about one in five people with shingles go on to develop postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN, which is nerve pain that can linger for months or even years. The virus is dormant in a skin nerve site in the spinal cord. As the virus descends down the nerve it initially causes pain (at times mimicking a heart attack) before the blistering rash appears.
Residents have asked me for more information. There’s plenty on-line and in Consumer Reports. Please discuss this information with your medical provider. According to the NYT, the FDA committee vote for approval was 8 to 7, not a ringing endorsement. The downside is more frequent side effects with Shingrix – fever and muscle aches and headaches lasting up to 3 days. It also requires two shots instead of one for Zostavax. Your choice!
(CNN)A new adult vaccine has received a double thumbs-up from the American federal health system.
“On the heels of Monday’s Food and Drug Administration approval of Shingrix, a new vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline for the prevention of shingles, a federal committee of immunization experts voted Wednesday to recommend Shingrix for all Americans 50 and older.
“Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful, itchy rash that develops on one side of the body and can last for two to four weeks. One in three Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime, with the risk increasing to half of adults over 85, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the CDC on vaccine usage, also recommended that adults who received Zostavax, a shingles vaccine made by Merck, be revaccinated with Shingrix. Additionally, the committee expressed its preference for Shingrix over Zostavax. GlaxoSmithKline says Shingrix will be available “shortly.”
Zostavax was licensed and recommended by the committee in 2006 for people 60 and older, including those who have had an episode of shingles. Until now, it has been the only approved vaccine to protect against the virus.
Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Zostavax, a live-attenuated vaccine, introduces a weaker (attenuated) version of the varicella zoster virus in order to stimulate the immune system.
By comparison, Shingrix is a non-live, subunit vaccine that works by introducing only an essential subunit of the actual microbe. The intention of using part rather than the whole pathogen is to reduce the possibility of the body having an adverse reaction.
Zostavax is a single-shot vaccine that is given once. Shingrix is also a one-time-only vaccine, yet two shots are given two months apart.
Between 10% and 18% of patients will experience a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia, which causes pain and lasts from three months up to several years, once the shingles rash is gone.
Studies presented to the committee show that Zostavax is 51% effective against shingles and 67% effective against postherpetic neuralgia.
In contrast, Shingrix is 97% effective against shingles for people between the ages of 50 and 69 and 91% effective for people 70 or older. It is 91% effective against postherpetic neuralgia for people 50 and older. These rates are based on evidence presented to the committee from clinical trials with over 38,000 total participants.
Both vaccines wane in effectiveness over time. Zostavax diminishes in effectiveness by 15% to 25% after the first year and shows no significant protection by the ninth year, according to research presented to the committee. Shingrix remained at or above 85% effectiveness up to four years after vaccination; longer-term effectiveness is unknown.
I am glad to hear about this new vaccine coming out but I am wondering if those of us who already had the shingles standard vaccine would even be candidates for this new one.
My understanding is that even if you received Zostavax or had shingles, that you may benefit from the new vaccine.
Thanks, Jim. I will take this info to my doctor next month
Take care! And don’t forget to attend the Staff Art Show in the Sky Lounge next Monday evening from 6:30-8:30. It will be lots of fun! Darrel, Heidi, Micheal (our driver), Jensen, Nicole, and our visiting ikebana instructor will all be sharing their work with us.
Linda
Well, it’s not effective for everyone, and can have some bothersome side-effects, so I think I’ll wait.