Actualizado: Abril 3, 2008
Zoster (shingles) is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the cause of chickenpox. The VZV virus—which remains in the nerve cells for life after chickenpox or after the chickenpox vaccine—may reappear as shingles in later life, particularly in the elderly and those who are immunocompromised. This is because of declining immunity to the VZV virus over time. Thus, anyone who has had chicken pox or the chickenpox live virus vaccine is at risk for developing shingles. While shingles can occur at any age, the risk increases as people get older. When shingles develop, a rash or blisters appear on the skin, generally on one side of the body. The skin blisters in shingles contain the VZV virus so chickenpox-susceptible children can develop chickenpox when exposed to shingles.
Because the infection in shingles starts in the nerves, shingles can also be painful. Pain can last for months after the rash has healed and can be very severe—this is called post herpetic neuralgia or PHN. Shingles occurs most commonly in older individuals and PHN is a more common complication of shingles in older individuals.
Year licensed: 2006
Note: Reconstituted Zostavax must be discarded if not used within 30 minutes. CDC recommends storage of this and all live virus vaccines (MMR, MMRV and varicella) in the freezer at 5o F or below.
This vaccine does not contain thimerosal. For information on the thimerosal content in vaccines, see the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t3
A varicella vaccine developed in Japan in the 1970’s was licensed for routine use in Japan and Korea in 1988. The varicella vaccine was recommended for routine use in the United States in 1995. Zostavax is very similar to varicella vaccine but contains a higher dose of the vaccine virus. In 2006, Zostavax was licensed and recommended for routine administration to adults over the age of 60 years.
Who should receive the vaccine?
Who should not receive the vaccine?
This vaccine is recommended by:
The summary of adolescent/adult immunization recommendations can be found at: www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.pdf
Zostavax should be administered immediately after it is reconstituted and is administered subcutaneously in the upper arm.
In a clinical trial of more than 38,000 individuals over 60 years of age, about half of whom received the vaccine, Zostavax reduced the occurrence of shingles by about 50%. Effectiveness was greatest in the younger age groups and declined with advancing age. In those who had received the vaccine and who developed shingles, the duration (but not the severity) of PHN was reduced.
Serious adverse events (death, hospitalization) were similar for vaccine and placebo recipients. Discomfort, redness or swelling at the injection site occurred in about 48% of vaccine recipients.
Duration of protection is not known at this time but appears to be more than 3 years.
Zostavax has not been studied in persons younger than 60 years.
Zostavax has not been studied among people who have already had shingles. Although recurrent cases of zoster have been described, someone who has had shingles is less likely to suffer another episode.