The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommend a new vaccine, Zostavax, for anyone age 60 or older. The vaccine reduces the incidence of painful shingles, also known as herpes zoster, which is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV).
VZV causes the childhood disease, chickenpox, and anyone who has ever had chickenpox can become infected with shingles. A shingles outbreak begins when the dormant virus becomes active again and produces a band-like pattern of very painful blisters that develop in clusters on one side of the body. The pain, which can be severe and debilitating, can last anywhere from several weeks to several years. The CDC reports about a million cases of the viral outbreak each year, with one out of every three people developing the disease at some point during their lifetime.
The vaccine, which met the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006, is recommended by the CDC for anyone age 60 or older, even if they’ve already experienced a bout with shingles. The vaccine has been found to reduce the incidence of shingles by about 50% in people of all ages who have been vaccinated, with people in the 60-to-69 age bracket enjoying a reduced rate of occurrence by 64%.
Common side effects associated with the vaccine include pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness at the injection site, as well as headache and itchiness. One dose of vaccine is recommended for anyone who has had chickenpox.
More than 95% of the population has been infected by the VZV at some point during their life, which means more than 95% of the population is at risk for developing shingles. The risk of developing shingles increases around age 50 and becomes higher as a person ages. According to CDC estimates, half of the population age 85 and older has had or can expect to develop shingles.
Further CDC estimates indicate that one-third of the American population will develop the condition although more than half of all older Americans don’t understand how serious the condition and its complications can be. One-third of all people developing the condition are expected to experience serious complications, with the risk of complications rising after age 60.
When anti-viral medication is started within 72 hours of the appearance of the first symptoms, the level of pain experienced and the duration of the outbreak can be reduced, minimizing the risk of more severe and longer-lasting complications.
Source: CDC
