Shingles Vaccine Pros And Cons
As we get older and our immune systems weaken, the possibility of developing a hideous and painful rash, known as shingles, drastically increases. In fact, it’s estimated that adults who’ve had chickenpox in the past have a 1 in 10 chance of coming down with this disease. The portent is even worse for adults who haven’t had chickenpox, as they may develop severe reactions like brain swelling, hearing loss, blindness, facial paralysis and chronic pain disorders. The best way to prevent this painful malady is to get the shingles vaccine starting at age 60, which will reduce the risk by 50-60%.
The shingles vaccine, Zostavax, was licensed in 2006 and has been tested on more than 20,000 Americans so far. One dose administered by injection into the upper arm has been shown to reduce the risk of shingles by 50% and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) by 67%. The few people who developed shingles, regardless of the vaccine, generally suffered less pain and required less medication treatment than those who were not vaccinated. The vaccine is said to be extremely safe. The only serious risk associated with the vaccine is for people who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin. One in three patients reported redness, soreness or swelling at the injection site. One in seventy patients said they got a headache following their vaccination. People who develop a reaction to the vaccine do so within minutes or an hour of injection, and usually report a sudden fever, difficulty breathing, wheezing, weakness, hives, a quickened heartbeat, dizziness, paleness and throat swelling. If any of these serious symptoms occur, a doctor should be called immediately.
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 shingles 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 vaccine onto others? Is shingles 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.
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