Questions about varicella-zoster vaccine

Questions about varicella-zoster vaccine

Questions about varicella-zoster vaccine.  Vaccination clinics across the country have successively started to provide herpes zoster vaccination services. In order to familiarize everyone with the varicella-zoster vaccine, there are answers to hot questions about varicella-zoster vaccine.

1 How to prevent shingles?

The treatment of shingles is limited. Improving the resistance of susceptible people aged 50 years and above is an important basic preventive measure. Patients with shingles should take contact isolation measures. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the onset of shingles. There are currently two vaccines on the global market that can prevent shingles:

• a. Zostavax®-manufactured by Merck & Co.
• b. Shingrix®-produced by GlaxoSmithKline

Shingrix is ​​a recombinant shingles vaccine. In clinical trials, Shingrix provides more than 90% protection to adults aged 50 and above, which is better than Zostavax. Therefore, in 2017, US FDA experts voted unanimously for approval and approved for use in 50 years and above. People.

2 Will I get shingles if I get the shingles vaccine?

Vaccination is the most economical and effective way to prevent shingles. Similar to other vaccines, vaccination may not provide 100% protection for all recipients. The vaccine has corresponding immunogenicity, high protective effect, long durability, good tolerance and safety.

After being vaccinated in the population, the degree of disease incidence (such as the percentage decrease in the incidence rate, but also severe illness, death, infection, etc.) has been greatly improved compared with that of the unvaccinated population. Vaccination will definitely have the benefits of vaccination, which can reduce your chances of contracting shingles. For us, you cannot protect against this disease by 100%.

3 The benefits of vaccination?

Vaccines are used to prevent diseases in healthy people. They have corresponding immunogenicity, high protective efficacy, long durability, and good tolerance and safety. After being vaccinated in the population, the degree of disease incidence (such as the percentage decrease in the incidence rate, but also severe illness, death, infection, etc.) compared with the unvaccinated population has been greatly improved. Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent infectious diseases.

4 What related examinations/diagnosis of shingles can be done?

It can be diagnosed based on typical clinical manifestations. The diagnosis can also be confirmed by collecting blister fluid, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method, and virus culture.

5 PHN treatment after shingles?

The purpose of PHN treatment is to effectively control pain as early as possible, relieve accompanying sleep and emotional disorders, and improve the quality of life. The principle is: as soon as possible, sufficient amount, full course of treatment and combined treatment. Drug therapy is the basis, and effective doses of recommended drugs should be used. After the drugs are effective in relieving pain, the drug should be avoided immediately and the treatment should be maintained for at least 2 weeks. Drug combined with minimally invasive interventional therapy can effectively relieve pain and reduce drug dosage and adverse reactions.

6 What measures/prevention can be taken to prevent shingles?

Improving the resistance of susceptible people aged 50 and above is an important basic preventive measure. Patients with shingles should take contact isolation measures. Vaccination of recombinant shingles vaccine is the most effective measure to control the onset of shingles.

In 2018, the American Advisory Committee on Immunization Implementation (ACIP) and the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) both issued recommendations on recombinant shingles vaccination, recommending recombinant shingles vaccine for the prevention of shingles. In May 2019, the recombinant shingles vaccine was approved by the National Medical Products Administration in China for the prevention of shingles in adults aged 50 and above.

7 How does shingles spread?

Shingles cannot be transmitted from one person to another, that is, a person with shingles cannot directly cause another person’s shingles. However, patients with active shingles can transmit the virus to others, especially babies who have had close contact with shingles patients, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and people who have never had chickenpox or have been vaccinated against chickenpox. The possibility of being infected, such as chickenpox after infection. The route of virus transmission is direct contact with the herpes fluid of patients with herpes zoster, and it is relatively rare to inhale droplets of herpes fluid from the skin of patients with disseminated herpes zoster.

8 Will shingles be prevalent, and will it be affected by the seasonal environment?

Shingles usually occurs in adults and does not cause epidemics. It is more common in summer and autumn.

9 The relationship between improving immunity and suffering from herpes zoster?

Improving immunity can enhance physical fitness and reduce the probability of getting sick, but it does not mean that the body will not get sick. In particular, herpes zoster is a skin disease caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus. Vaccination is the most effective and economical method. Recombinant shingles vaccine can make the body produce specific antibodies against varicella-zoster virus. It has specificity and pertinence, and plays a defensive function against herpes zoster disease.

10 Can the varicella vaccine reduce the risk of shingles?

In some studies, it has been found that the incidence of shingles in children who have been vaccinated against chickenpox has decreased. Compared with children with a history of chickenpox, children who have been vaccinated against chickenpox have a tendency to reduce the clinical manifestations of HZ and have less pain. However, since the start of the children’s varicella vaccination program, there has been controversy about whether varicella vaccination can change the population’s HZ risk. The direct impact of widespread varicella vaccination on the incidence of HZ has not yet been determined. According to the recommendations of the American Advisory Committee on Immunization Implementation (ACIP), recombinant shingles vaccine can be used for adults ≥ 50 years of age, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated with chickenpox in advance, and do not need to be screened for chickenpox.

11 I have a history of shingles, can I get the vaccine after recovery?

After shingles is cured, it is not immune for life. There is a 1%-6% probability of recurrence, and predisposing factors include advanced age, women, and weakened immunity. Therefore, it is still necessary to vaccinate after shingles. If you still have concerns, you can consult a medical professional for reconfirmation.

12 I have been vaccinated against other types of herpes, do I still need to vaccinate the recombinant shingles vaccine?

Need. The vaccine can be used for people who have been vaccinated with attenuated shingles vaccine. The American Advisory Committee on Immunization Implementation (ACIP) recommends shingles vaccine to prevent shingles and related complications in adults who have previously been vaccinated with attenuated shingles vaccine. disease.

13 Do people who have been vaccinated against chickenpox or infected with chickenpox still need to be vaccinated?

Need. Regardless of whether the patient has been previously vaccinated against varicella, a recombinant shingles vaccine is recommended.

People with a history of chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles. Vaccination of recombinant shingles vaccine can prevent the disease from occurring in adulthood.

14 I have had chickenpox before, do I still have to get the shingles vaccine?

It should be vaccinated, because people who have had chickenpox are high-risk groups of herpes zoster, and should be vaccinated against herpes zoster; people who have not had chickenpox should also be vaccinated against herpes zoster. Because some people have no symptoms after being infected with chickenpox, but there is a latent virus in the body.

(source:chinanet, reference only)

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