According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if you had chicken pox as a child (and if you were born before 1995, it’s likely you did), there is a 30% chance that the latent Zoster virus will rear its “ugly” head once again in your adult life, only this time in the form of shingles.
Shingles typically presents as a painful, itchy rash on one side of the body. Common adjectives our clients have used to describe this rash include “burning, shooting and stabbing pain.” This outbreak can be lasting. The rash typically subsides after a few weeks, but pain may continue for several months, a symptom called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This is a virus we take seriously, and we’re not alone. The CDC strongly recommends that all older adults receive a shingles vaccine to prevent this painful affliction.
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new shingles vaccine, called Shingrix, which has shown impressive efficacy data. Shingrix proved 90% effective at preventing the shingles virus, a number much higher than its competitor, Zostavax, which showed only 50% effectiveness. Additionally, Shingrix is specifically engineered to reduce the overall incidence of PHN. These positive outcomes motivated the CDC to alter its guidelines to recommend Shingrix over Zostavax for first-time shingles vaccine recipients.
The risk and severity of shingles increases with age as the immune system loses the ability to mount a powerful response to infection. Shingrix was developed specifically with this in mind. Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive the vaccine to help prevent future occurrences.
Call Alliance Homecare at 646-989-3936 and speak to one of our expert Care Managers about how the shingles vaccine can help protect you or someone you love.
Shingrix Important Safety Information
- You should not receive SHINGRIX if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of SHINGRIX.
- The most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, and upset stomach.
- Vaccination with SHINGRIX may not protect all individuals.
- Ask your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of SHINGRIX. Only a healthcare provider can decide if SHINGRIX is right for you.
SHINGRIX is not indicated for the prevention of chickenpox.
