Squashing Myths About the Shingles Vaccine
Marked by a painful rash and capable of leading to severe complications, shingles is one of the most common ailments affecting older Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1/3 of all people in the US will be affected by shingles at some point in their lives.
Shingles, however, are preventable. With an effectiveness of almost 97%, the shingles vaccine is the best way for older and immunocompromised individuals to avoid the pain and potential lasting damage caused by shingles.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and misinformation out there, and these erroneous claims are common enough that some people will avoid this simple step that can prevent significant pain and trouble in the future. Here, we’ll take a look at some myths surrounding the shingles vaccine and shingles itself.
Myth #1: The Shingles Vaccine Is Not Effective
This is one of the most common myths, and one of the most important to debunk. The shingles vaccine is incredibly effective:
- In adults ages 50-69 with a healthy immune system, the current shingles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the disease.
- In adults over age 70, the vaccine is about 91% effective.
- In adults with a compromised immune system, the vaccine is 68-91% effective at preventing shingles, depending on the overall state of the patient’s immune system.
This myth probably emerges from the fact that the previous iteration of the shingles vaccine, Zostavax, was only about 50% effective at preventing shingles. The current vaccine, Shingrix, is considerably more effective and has completely replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the US.
Myth #2: If You’ve Had Chicken Pox, You Can’t/Shouldn’t Get the Shingles Vaccine
A lot of misunderstanding about shingles comes from the mistaken belief that shingles is just a variant form of childhood chickenpox. While the two diseases are both caused by the same varicella zoster virus, they are two completely different illnesses with different progressions and effects.
Having had chickenpox in the past doesn’t render one immune from shingles – in fact, the opposite is true. Only individuals who have had chickenpox or been exposed to varicella without being symptomatic (“silent chickenpox”) can come down with shingles.
The fact that you’ve had chickenpox in the past doesn’t prevent you from getting the vaccine, it’s an indicator that you should definitely be immunized to prevent a reactivation of the virus later in life.
Myth #3: If You Received a Zostavax Vaccine, You Shouldn’t Get the Newer Shingrix Vaccine
As stated above, the previous vaccine had much lower effectiveness than the current Shingrix vaccine and was based on a different technology. Zostavax used live varicella viruses to prepare the body’s immune system to fight shingles. Shingrix uses recombinant vaccine technology to train your immune system to recognize specific parts of the varicella virus without using any whole viruses.
What does that mean? Specifically, it means that there’s no danger in having taken both types of vaccine. If you were vaccinated previously with the Zostavax vaccine, you should still get an updated vaccine for maximum protection.
Myth #4: If You’ve Already Had Shingles, You Don’t Need to Be Vaccinated
While recurrences of shingles are extremely rare, only occurring in about 5% of patients, they’re not unheard-of. If you have had shingles in the past, you can get it again, and being vaccinated will significantly reduce the chances of a recurrence.
Myth #5: Shingles Only Affects Older Adults
Shingles can strike at any age, especially in individuals with weakened or compromised immune systems. Most people with a healthy immune system can wait until after age 50 to get vaccinated, individuals 19 and over who are immunodeficient in some way should talk to their doctor about getting a shingles vaccine.
Myth #6: The Vaccine’s Side Effects Are Worse Than the Disease
It’s true that there are some common side effects to the Shingrix vaccine. The most common are:
- A sore arm with mild to moderate pain
- Redness and swelling around the injection site
- Tiredness
- Muscle aches
- Shivering or chills
- Headache
- Stomach pain or nausea
While these may sound unpleasant, they seldom last any longer than 2 or 3 days.
On the other hand, a full-blown case of shingles can lead to:
- Pain, burning, or tingling over part of your body, usually on one side or the other
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash including blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
- Headache
- Fever
The main symptom, pain, isn’t limited to your skin, and can be intense. These symptoms will usually clear up in two to four weeks, but can lead to nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The pain from PHN can last for months or even years. Other complications that can arise from shingles include:
- Eye problems, including loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition marked by facial paralysis and hearing loss
- Bacterial infection
- Loss of pigment or scarring at the rash site(s)
- Widespread inflammation of tissues, including lungs, liver, brain, spinal cord, and the protective membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord
Angus Lake Healthcare is your local pharmacy consultant, serving facilities and their residents across Central Georgia.
Nobody wants the pain of a shingles outbreak. Angus Lake can hold vaccine clinics at your facility to protect your patients against shingles and other dangerous diseases. Schedule a consultation today to learn more: 478-233-1828.
Related Articles:
- Benefits of Vaccines, Part 1: Staying Safe & Healthy
- Benefits of Vaccines, Part 2: Avoiding Harmful Diseases
- A Deep Dive Into the TDaP Vaccine