Vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster)
in Munich
Most of us have had contact with shingles at some point, either because we have had the disease ourselves or because someone we know has suffered from this usually painful and long-lasting disease. Now a safe vaccine with long-lasting protection against shingles is available. In the view of the team at the practice of Dr. Frühwein und Partner, this is a really sensible preventive measure.
Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (chickenpox) and the associated disease of shingles) herpes zoster is a painful and extremely unpleasant experience that more than 400,000 people in Germany experience each year. The virus is carried by everyone who has ever had chickenpox.
In particular, the pain and discomfort that often persists for a long time, the so-called post-zoster neuralgia (PZN), significantly limits the quality of life even after the acute phase of the disease with the typical rash with small vesicles (zoster exanthema) and affects up to 30% of sufferers.
A new vaccine against the disease has been on the market in Germany since May 2018. According to the STIKO, efficacy across all age groups 50 years and older is about 92 percent for protection against herpes zoster and about 82 percent for protection against post-zoster neuralgia. Thereby, the immunity seems to last for at least 9 years.
Now the vaccination is also covered by all statutory health insurers.
For whom does vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster) make sense?
Vaccination is recommended by the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) for all persons over 60 years of age and persons with an underlying disease that poses an increased health risk. E.G.:
- congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies/immunosuppression
- HIV infection
- Rheumatoid arthritis drug
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchial asthma
- chronic renal failure
- Diabetes mellitus
Vaccination is particularly useful for people under immunosuppression. Even if you have already had shingles, the vaccination makes sense, precisely because here the risk of re-infection is increased.
Approved for vaccination from the age of 50 years
What kind of vaccine is used in the vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster)?
It is an adjuvanted inactivated vaccine (subunit vaccine). A recombinant surface antigen of varicella zoster virus, glycoprotein E. is the basis for the immune response, with adjuvant AS01B used for boosting. This consists of monophosphoryl lipid A and QS-21 (Quillaja saponaria Molina).
How is the vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster) administered.
The Shingrix vaccine is given in 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart, and is placed in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm.
Vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster): a safe bet?
However, local reactions such as redness, pain or swelling around the injection site are common. You may also experience mild fever, headache, muscle aches or fatigue, but this is not a cause for concern as the symptoms quickly disappear on their own. As far as serious side effects are concerned, the vaccine is considered very safe and had a comparable safety to the administration of a placebo in studies.