It's reasonably effective, and seems to have a low incidence of side effects. Complications from shingles can lead to death, and even when it doesn't kill you, it's painful and unpleasant and can last for months. So for most people over the age of 60, it's probably a good idea to get this jab, especially as the negative side effects from the vaccine are minimal.
What you probably also want to know is how effective it is at preventing shingles. The Centre for Disease Control released the results of a study into this question in late 2008. Their research suggests that the shingles vaccine will cut the number of shingles cases by about half each year (so going from about 500,000 cases per year in the USA to about 250,000). The vaccine is more effective for people under 70. It also seems to reduce the severity of symptoms in most cases among those who do develop shingles in spite of receiving the vaccine. One of the worst symptoms of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, persistent nerve pain which is felt as constant throbbing of the affected area. This type of pain appeared to be reduced among two thirds of patients who received the vaccine (compared to people who only received a placebo vaccine for shingles). The duration of the illness was observed to be shorter, too, among the vaccinated.
Source: flickr.com.
Bad side effects from the shingles vaccine seem to be relatively few. There is a tiny risk of significant allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), probably due to reaction to neomycin which is in the shingles vaccine in trace amounts. The CDC observed only one such reaction among over 17,000 recipients. Neomycin is common in many medicines and ointments; sensitivity to it can be tested for separately prior to shingles vaccination. About 1.5% of all people in the CDC study had other reactions to the shingles vaccination, overwhelmingly minor reactions such as temporary redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection side .
Some people shouldn't have the shingles vaccine, particularly anyone with a suppressed immune system, which includes individuals who are taking immuno-suppressant drugs (such as needed after an organ transplant), who have undergone cancer treatment or pregnant women. The vaccine is also unsuitable for sufferers of tuberculosis or HIV-AIDS (or similar immuno-suppressive illnesses).
Some HMOs are now requiring their patients to obtain the shingles vaccine at age 60 or 65 or else they risk losing their health care cover altogether.
There is a good information sheet on the CDC website about the Zoster (Shingles) vaccine, giving much more detail about it.
What you probably also want to know is how effective it is at preventing shingles. The Centre for Disease Control released the results of a study into this question in late 2008. Their research suggests that the shingles vaccine will cut the number of shingles cases by about half each year (so going from about 500,000 cases per year in the USA to about 250,000). The vaccine is more effective for people under 70. It also seems to reduce the severity of symptoms in most cases among those who do develop shingles in spite of receiving the vaccine. One of the worst symptoms of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, persistent nerve pain which is felt as constant throbbing of the affected area. This type of pain appeared to be reduced among two thirds of patients who received the vaccine (compared to people who only received a placebo vaccine for shingles). The duration of the illness was observed to be shorter, too, among the vaccinated.
Source: flickr.com.
Bad side effects from the shingles vaccine seem to be relatively few. There is a tiny risk of significant allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), probably due to reaction to neomycin which is in the shingles vaccine in trace amounts. The CDC observed only one such reaction among over 17,000 recipients. Neomycin is common in many medicines and ointments; sensitivity to it can be tested for separately prior to shingles vaccination. About 1.5% of all people in the CDC study had other reactions to the shingles vaccination, overwhelmingly minor reactions such as temporary redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection side .
Some people shouldn't have the shingles vaccine, particularly anyone with a suppressed immune system, which includes individuals who are taking immuno-suppressant drugs (such as needed after an organ transplant), who have undergone cancer treatment or pregnant women. The vaccine is also unsuitable for sufferers of tuberculosis or HIV-AIDS (or similar immuno-suppressive illnesses).
Some HMOs are now requiring their patients to obtain the shingles vaccine at age 60 or 65 or else they risk losing their health care cover altogether.
There is a good information sheet on the CDC website about the Zoster (Shingles) vaccine, giving much more detail about it.
