Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful viral infection characterized by a distinctive rash. It affects individuals who have previously had chickenpox and can lead to discomfort and potential long-term complications. A vaccine exists to help prevent shingles and reduce the severity of its symptoms, offering valuable protection against the disease.
Understanding Shingles
Shingles results from the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the VZV remains dormant within nerve cells in the body. Years or even decades later, the virus can become active again, traveling along nerve pathways to the skin, causing the characteristic shingles rash.
The typical symptoms include a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters that usually appears on one side of the body, often wrapping around the torso or appearing on the face. This rash can cause burning, tingling, or itching sensations before it even becomes visible. One common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a severe and lasting nerve pain that can persist for months or even years after the rash has healed.
The Shingles Vaccine Explained
The modern shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is a recombinant zoster vaccine. Unlike older vaccines that contained a live, weakened virus, Shingrix does not contain any live virus. Instead, it utilizes a specific part of the virus to stimulate an immune response.
The vaccine is composed of glycoprotein E, a protein found on the surface of the varicella-zoster virus, combined with an adjuvant system. This adjuvant enhances the body’s immune response, leading to stronger protection. By introducing only a component of the virus, the vaccine trains the immune system to recognize and fight off VZV, preparing the body to respond quickly if it encounters the actual virus. This helps prevent shingles from developing or reduces its severity.
Who Should Receive the Vaccine
The shingles vaccine is recommended for specific age groups and individuals to provide protection against the disease. Adults 50 years of age and older should receive the vaccine, as the risk of developing shingles and its complications increases with age. There is no upper age limit for receiving the vaccine.
Individuals who have previously had shingles should still get vaccinated, as having had the disease does not guarantee future immunity. Similarly, those who received the older Zostavax vaccine or the chickenpox vaccine should also get the recombinant shingles vaccine. Additionally, adults aged 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems due to disease or therapy are also recommended to receive the vaccine, given their elevated risk of complications.
Vaccine Effectiveness and Possible Reactions
The recombinant shingles vaccine offers strong protection against shingles and its related complications, including postherpetic neuralgia. In adults aged 50 to 69 years with healthy immune systems, the vaccine has demonstrated 97% effectiveness in preventing shingles. For adults 70 years and older, effectiveness remains high, 91%.
The vaccine also significantly reduces the risk of developing PHN, with 91% effectiveness in adults 50 years and older, and 89% effectiveness in those 70 years and older. While highly effective, the vaccine can cause some common, generally mild to moderate reactions. These include soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site, often reported by recipients. Systemic reactions such as muscle pain, fatigue, headache, shivering, and fever are also common, resolving within two to three days.
Getting Vaccinated and Key Information
The shingles vaccine is administered as a two-dose series to ensure protection. For most individuals, the second dose should be given between two and six months after the first dose. However, for people with weakened immune systems, the second dose can be administered one to two months after the initial dose.
The vaccine is available at doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Important considerations before vaccination include: individuals with a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or any of its components should not receive it. It is generally not recommended for pregnant individuals due to insufficient data. Those with a current shingles infection should wait until they recover. People with moderate or severe acute illnesses should postpone vaccination until their recovery.