Shingles is a painful and uncomfortable infection that is more common in individuals aged over 50 years old. It manifests as a rash on one part of a person’s body and can last from a few weeks to a few years. A shingles infection lasting more than four weeks is rare but possible. In this case, there is a long-lasting pain on your skin called post-herpetic neuralgia.
A person is able to get shingles off another person if they are in contact with fluid from the blisters or can trigger the reactivation of the infection if a person has previously had chickenpox. Shingles are extremely unpleasant, which is why medical professionals recommend and offer vaccinations, to help prevent a (or another) shingles outbreak and post-herpetic neuralgia.
The risk of shingles is much more prevalent in people older than 50 years of age, and the risk continues to increase as a person gets older. Risk factors also include a weakened immune system, pre-existing health conditions and medications.
The best way a person can prevent a shingles infection is by getting a vaccination and is highly recommended to people over the age of 50.
There are currently two vaccines that are recommended: Zostavax and Shingrix.
Zostavax is a live vaccine that was licenced by the FDA in 2006 and is administered in order to reduce the risk of a shingles infection. The vaccine only requires a person to get one shot by a medical professional and has been known to reduce the risk of infection by 51%, and reduced post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%.
Zostavax is important to obtain for anyone over the age of 50 years old, whether or not you think you have had chickenpox or not. It is important to note, that even if a person has previously had shingles, the vaccine can still be helpful, as it can prevent any further outbreaks. The vaccine has been known to provide protection for approximately 5 years, sometimes longer.
A person should always speak to their chosen medical professional before obtaining a vaccination. In the case of Zostavax, it has been recommended that a person should not get this particular vaccine if they have any of the following:
There have not been any serious side effects or problems reported with the use of the Zostavax and is commonly used around the world to prevent shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. However, a person may experience minor side effects, such as headaches, and redness and itching from the injection site. If there is any site of a major side effect or an allergic reaction, then medical advice should be sought immediately.
The Zostavax Vaccination can be administered by the Trinity Medical Centre.
Similar to Zostavax, Shingrix is a vaccination that provides protection from shingles and posts-herpetic neuralgia and is recommended for healthy adults over the age of 50. The vaccination is administered in a person’s upper arm and takes two shots to be the most effective. The vaccination shots are administered at least 2-6 months apart. Shingrix provides a 90% protection against the prevention of shingles and posts-herpetic neuralgia. It has been known to say about 85% protection for the first four years of administration.
The Shingrix vaccination is suitable for adults over the age of 50. It does not matter if you have had chickenpox or not, or whether you have already had shingles.
A person should not get the Shingrix vaccine if they:
Minor side effects are expected for 2-3 days after the Shingrix vaccination.
There are two vaccinations available, Zostavax and Shingrix, both with many benefits and are recommended to any person over the age of 50. If a person is considering getting vaccinated, it is best to speak to a medical professional to identify which vaccine is most suitable.