Shingles is a painful condition that affects over one-third of the population over the age of 50, sometimes more than once. A shingles vaccine called Zostavax has been available for a long time, but now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued new vaccination guidelines around a new shingles vaccine. Shingrix, which was just approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2017, will take the place of Zostavax, and this has implications for a wider group of people, some of whom have already been vaccinated.
What Is Shingrix? Who Needs It?
Shingrix is made by GlaxoSmithKline. It is meant for anyone age 50 and older, and it is a much better vaccine than Zostavax, which was only about 51 percent effective and lost effectiveness in much older patients. Zostavax was meant for people ages 60 and older, so Shingrix offers protection to a wider segment of the population. Another big change is that Shingrix is not based on a live virus like Zostavax was. This means that Shingrix may be more appropriate for patients who could not get Zostavax due to allergies.
It's crucial to note that at this point, Shingrix has been approved only for people with normal immune systems who are not allergic to any component of the Shingrix vaccine. The company is working on testing the vaccine in immune-compromised patients, however, and the fact that the vaccine does not contain a live virus is a positive step in helping that trial succeed.
As mentioned, anyone 50 and older should get Shingrix, which comes in a series of two shots. There is no proof that getting only the first shot offers protection, so patients need to complete the second shot without fail.
People Who Already Got the Zostavax Shot
Anyone who has already had the Zostavax shot should get Shingrix because of the increased effectiveness. If someone has just gotten Zostavax, waiting at least a couple of months before getting the first Shingrix shot is prudent.
It is not a good idea for patients to rely solely on Zostavax unless they have allergies to components in Shingrix. The lower effectiveness of Zostavax has been a real problem, and patients should take advantage of the better protection now available.
Dealing With Immune System Conditions
Shingrix may be a great development for those with allergies, but those with compromised immune systems should hang tight. In immune system conditions, the mechanism that should protect the body from major adverse reactions is not functioning as it should. These patients and their doctors should monitor vaccine trial news to determine when or if it's safe to start the shots.
No one is really thrilled about getting one shot, much less two. But the shots are a small inconvenience compared with suffering through a bout of shingles. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible about starting the Shingrix series.