No Excuses, People: Get the New Shingles Vaccine
- 6 years ago
No Excuses, People: Get the New Shingles Vaccine
“This really is a sea change,” said Dr. Rafael Harpaz, a veteran shingles researcher at the C. D.C.
Dr. William Schaffner, preventive disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine, said, “This vaccine has spectacular initial protection rates in every age group.
Shingrix racked up a 97 percent effectiveness rate in adults over age 50 and, in a separate study
of people over age 70, prevented 90 percent of shingles in those 70 to well past age 80.
“In groups such as the elderly, who often don’t maintain vigorous responses to vaccines, this represents
extremely strong disease protection,” said Dr. Kathleen Dooling, an epidemiologist at the C. D.C.
* Shingrix’s protection appears to last longer.
The currently available shingles vaccine, called Zostavax, only prevents about half of shingles cases in those over age 60
and has demonstrated far less effectiveness among elderly patients.
The committee also recommended Shingrix for adults who’ve previously gotten Zostavax, since a smaller
study in people over age 65 demonstrated effectiveness and safety in those already vaccinated.
That vaccine’s effectiveness drops from 64 percent for people in their 60s to 38
percent among those over age 70, and falls still lower for people in their 80s.
“This really is a sea change,” said Dr. Rafael Harpaz, a veteran shingles researcher at the C. D.C.
Dr. William Schaffner, preventive disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine, said, “This vaccine has spectacular initial protection rates in every age group.
Shingrix racked up a 97 percent effectiveness rate in adults over age 50 and, in a separate study
of people over age 70, prevented 90 percent of shingles in those 70 to well past age 80.
“In groups such as the elderly, who often don’t maintain vigorous responses to vaccines, this represents
extremely strong disease protection,” said Dr. Kathleen Dooling, an epidemiologist at the C. D.C.
* Shingrix’s protection appears to last longer.
The currently available shingles vaccine, called Zostavax, only prevents about half of shingles cases in those over age 60
and has demonstrated far less effectiveness among elderly patients.
The committee also recommended Shingrix for adults who’ve previously gotten Zostavax, since a smaller
study in people over age 65 demonstrated effectiveness and safety in those already vaccinated.
That vaccine’s effectiveness drops from 64 percent for people in their 60s to 38
percent among those over age 70, and falls still lower for people in their 80s.