New Shingles vaccine
Did you know there’s a shingles vaccine? The shingles vaccine called Zostavax was released in 2006 and recommended for people 60 and older. Clinical trials show that Zostavax reduced the chances of a person developing shingles by 50%.
What causes shingles? The chicken pox virus (called varicella Zoster) causes shingles. At present, “almost one out of three people in American will develop shingles during his or her lifetime.” The experts believe that shingles can develop years later in people who had chicken pox as a child. An outbreak of shingles involves pain, a skin rash and often blisters. Shingles usually occurs on one side of the body and can last 2 to 4 weeks. Some people experience several pain (called postherpetic neuralgia) that can last for months after the rash and blisters heal.
The CDC suggests that people over age 60 talk to their doctor about a shingles vaccine. More information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/shingles/?s_cid=w_c_dht_cont_001 and
A March 2011 U.S. FDA press release announces that the FDA now approves the Zostavax vaccine for people 50 and older. http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm248390.htm
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