A new Shingles vaccine called Shingrix developed by GlaxoSmithKline has been recently approved by the CDC in October and is approximated to cost $300 for the vaccination. Both shingles and chickenpox are caused by varicella zoster, a herpesvirus. Shingles, which is more prevalent and more of a risk factor as you get older, has been a problem for the older more elderly population because of the long-lasting symptoms associated with it. Some symptoms, apart from rashes and blisters that is present in both shingles and chickenpox, include nerve pain and some serious symptoms like the development of pneumonia, the development of hearing problems, and occasionally brain inflammation.
The old Shingles vaccine was called Zostavax, a weak-live attenuated vaccine with a 51% efficacy against the disease, approved by the FDA for individuals aged over 50. The CDC however, noted that people who got this vaccine before the age of 60 showed that they were more susceptible to developing Shingles later on rather than if they waited after 60 years of age. An improvement upon Zostavax then, revolves around the notion that Shingrix, an inactivated vaccine, has proven to be effective in stopping Shingles in individuals that are over 80 years of age according to Dr. Rudolph Kotula, an infectious disease physician involved with the new Shingles vaccine. The most notable improvement in Shingrix however, is a high 90% efficacy rate in preventing the development of Shingles, even for individuals older than 80 years old. Shingrix is also recommended for individuals who have taken the old Shingles vaccine Zostavax.
Basically, if you are around the age where you should be worrying about Shingles, you should probably go ahead and get the vaccination and almost guarantee that you won’t get Shingles ever.
Source:
-Daniel Gutierrez
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