Herpes zoster, or shingles, occurs with increasing frequency and severity as adults get older. Herpes zoster is often associated with pain and discomfort, which may be significant enough to interfere with functional status and quality of life and may persist for weeks, months, or even years due to a complication known as postherpetic neuralgia. In the May 4, 2010 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, scientists report that the herpes zoster vaccine is safe and well-tolerated in older, immunocompetent adults.

Previous studies have shown that the herpes zoster vaccine is effective in preventing herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in immunocompetent older adults. However, the safety of the herpes zoster vaccine has not been studied in depth. Researchers from New York University School of Medicine in New York, and their colleagues from the Shingles Prevention Study Group evaluated the local side effects and short- and long-term safety profile of a single dose of herpes zoster vaccine versus placebo injection in 38,546 immunocompetent adults aged 60 and over.

Serious adverse events after administration of the herpes zoster vaccine were reported in 255 participants who received vaccine (1.4%) and in 254 (1.4%) who received placebo. In a substudy of adverse effects, 1604 vaccine recipients (48%) and 539 placebo recipients (16%) reported local inoculation-site adverse effects. Among the herpes zoster vaccine recipients who experienced local adverse effects, 977 (56.6%) were 60 to 69 years old, and 627 (39.2%) were older than 70 years. Herpes zoster infection occurred after injection in 7 participants who received the herpes zoster vaccine and in 24 who received placebo. Herpes zoster vaccine and placebo recipients had similar rates of hospitalization or death during long-term follow-up.

Based on the findings of this study, the herpes zoster vaccine appears to be safe and well-tolerated in older, immunocompetent adults. According to the authors, given that the herpes zoster vaccine provides substantial protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, this study supports a recommendation for routine use of the herpes zoster vaccine in older, immunocompetent adults who are at increased risk for herpes zoster and its complications.

Source:

Ann Intern Med 2010; 152(9): 545-554.