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Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
What is "shingles"? Shingles ("Herpes Zoster") is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It usually appears on one side of the body and lasts from 2-4 weeks. Its main symptom is pain, which can be quite severe. It can be accompanied by fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. For about 1 person in 5, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up. Only people who have had chicken pox, or received the chicken pox vaccine, can get shingles because it is caused by the same virus. Shingles is far more common in people over 50 than in young people. At least 1 million people a year in the USA get shingles.
A single dose of shingles vaccine is indicated for people age 60 and older. Shingles vaccine was licensed in 2006. In clinical trials, the vaccine prevented shingles in about half of people age 60 and older. It can also reduce the pain associated with shingles.
Some people should not get shingles vaccine or should wait.. Do not get the vaccine:
if you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of the shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
If you have a weakened immune system because of HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system; are undergoing treatment with steroids or other drugs that affect the immune system; are undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer; have a history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system (such as leukemia or lymphoma)
If you have active, untreated tuberculosis.
If you have an active illness with a temperature of 101.3°F. You may safely get the vaccine if you a minor illness, such as a cold, but if it is something more severe, wait until you recover.
What are the risks from shingles vaccine? A vaccine, like any other medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. No serious problems have been identified with the shingles vaccine. Redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the injection site occurs in about 1 person in 3 receiving the vaccine. A smaller number, about 1 in 70, have reported having a headache after being vaccinated.
What indicates a severe reaction? Signs of a serious reaction include difficulty breathing, hoarseness, wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness, occurring within the first few hours after vaccination. If you experience any of these:
Call a doctor right away.
Tell the doctor what happened, the date and time it happened and when the vaccination was given.
Ask the doctor to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting form. Or you can file this report through the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-822-7967. (VAERS does not provide medical advice.)
How can I learn more? Contact the Center for Disease Control (CDC) at 1-800-232-4636, visit their website www.cdc.gov/nip or come to the Bugbee Senior Center on May 14th to hear an after-lunch presentation about shingles vaccinations by Georgiana Spooner from the VT Dept. of Health.
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