Weighing The Benefits Of The Zostavax Shingles Vaccine
When a person is exposed to the varicella zoster virus, it can remain latent in the body for many, many years. The Zostavax shingles vaccine was developed in 2006 to protect the body from a reactivation of chickenpox, which causes painful blistering and complications like brain swelling or the severe pain disorder known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). While some people still develop the condition, the vaccine weakens the virus so the symptoms are less severe or life-threatening.
Zostavax was licensed in 2006 and has undergone trials involving in excess of 20,000 individuals thus far. A single dose given by inoculation in the upper arm has been determined to reduce the danger of shingles by 50% as well as the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) by 67%. The few individuals who contracted the disease despite the drug normally experienced less pain and required less medication than those who weren't inoculated.
The drug is believed to be quite safe. The only serious danger associated with it is for people who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. About one-third of people report redness, soreness or swelling at the point of injection. One in seventy people say they developed a headache directly following their vaccination.
People over the age of 60 are strongly urged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be vaccinated. However, as with any shot, the vaccine is not for everyone. Pregnant women, patients on certain types of drugs (steroids, Humira, Remicade, Enbrel, chemotherapy), those with allergies to gelatin or neomycin, and those with autoimmune diseases should not be vaccinated for the virus. Young children and adults under the age of 60 who have not had the chickenpox virus should be vaccinated for chickenpox, rather than shingles first.
Some patients wonder, "Can I pass the shingles virus onto others because of the vaccine? Is it contagious in the watered-down vaccine form?" Zostavax is made from a live, attenuated strain of the herpes zoster virus that causes shingles. In rare instances, people have developed a small skin reaction from the vaccine and transmitted the virus to another person. Pregnant women and children who haven't been vaccinated for chickenpox may be at risk in this case. Therefore, it is generally recommended that patients avoid contact with these high risk candidates for 7-10 days after being vaccinated, if a reaction has developed. If there is no rash, then it's not necessary to avoid contact with these people.
Zostavax was licensed in 2006 and has undergone trials involving in excess of 20,000 individuals thus far. A single dose given by inoculation in the upper arm has been determined to reduce the danger of shingles by 50% as well as the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) by 67%. The few individuals who contracted the disease despite the drug normally experienced less pain and required less medication than those who weren't inoculated.
The drug is believed to be quite safe. The only serious danger associated with it is for people who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. About one-third of people report redness, soreness or swelling at the point of injection. One in seventy people say they developed a headache directly following their vaccination.
People over the age of 60 are strongly urged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be vaccinated. However, as with any shot, the vaccine is not for everyone. Pregnant women, patients on certain types of drugs (steroids, Humira, Remicade, Enbrel, chemotherapy), those with allergies to gelatin or neomycin, and those with autoimmune diseases should not be vaccinated for the virus. Young children and adults under the age of 60 who have not had the chickenpox virus should be vaccinated for chickenpox, rather than shingles first.
Some patients wonder, "Can I pass the shingles virus onto others because of the vaccine? Is it contagious in the watered-down vaccine form?" Zostavax is made from a live, attenuated strain of the herpes zoster virus that causes shingles. In rare instances, people have developed a small skin reaction from the vaccine and transmitted the virus to another person. Pregnant women and children who haven't been vaccinated for chickenpox may be at risk in this case. Therefore, it is generally recommended that patients avoid contact with these high risk candidates for 7-10 days after being vaccinated, if a reaction has developed. If there is no rash, then it's not necessary to avoid contact with these people.
Source...