MS Speaks

Multiple Sclerosis => THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF BEING MULTIPLY SCLEROSED => Topic started by: agate on January 01, 2017, 03:46:23 pm

Title: Revised version of shingles vaccine possible
Post by: agate on January 01, 2017, 03:46:23 pm
Zostavax is the name of the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine many of us have had but now there is about to be a newer, more effective version of the vaccine that is said to provide better protection against shingles. Unfortunately it has to be taken as two injections, and it has some adverse side effects in some people.

From NEJM Journal Watch "Year in Review," January 1, 2017:

Quote
The currently available live-attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax) is only about 50% to 60% effective in preventing shingles. Industry-sponsored researchers now have published findings from two large studies of a new recombinant vaccine that is not yet FDA approved. During nearly 4 years of follow-up, vaccine efficacy was about 97% in a study that involved mostly middle-aged people (age range, 50–70), and was 90% in a study of older people (age, >70). However, this vaccine requires two injections, given 2 months apart, and bothersome (although not serious) local and systemic adverse effects are more common with this vaccine than with Zostavax. If this new vaccine is approved by the FDA, and if uptake is substantial, it will be a major advance (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 15 2016 and N Engl J Med 2016; 375:1019; NEJM JW Infect Dis Jun 2015 and N Engl J Med 2015; 372:2087).