Who Should Receive the Shingles Vaccine?
Posted: Apr 14th, 2016 at 06:05PM
Shingles in a virus that starts out in the body as a primary infection (Chickenpox) and emerges later in life as a secondary (Shingles) infection. Shingles infection can occur at any age, but it more likely to occur in older adults and those with compromised immune systems.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that everyone age 60 and over receive a single dose of Shingles Vaccine with no upper age limit. The FDA has approved this vaccine for individuals age 50 and older. This includes individuals that do not remember ever having the chickenpox. Efficacy of the vaccination declines with increasing age, so the younger the individual is at the time of vaccination, the more protection the individual will receive.
The Shingles Vaccine can help in three ways: in reducing the chance of future outbreaks, the severity of outbreaks, and the severity of post-herpetic neuralgia (pain caused by nerve damage after an outbreak). Shingles Vaccine can provide protection even if the individual has had previous Shingles outbreaks and can possibly prevent more outbreaks from occurring (51% reduction), and reduce post-hepatic neuralgia in future outbreaks (66.5% reduction).
e7 Health keeps the Shingles vaccine in stock at all times. Call our office today to schedule your vaccine.
