Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax) for people 60 and older
Don’t give it to immunosuppressed patients!
“Individuals receiving chemotherapy are sufficiently immunosuppressed to be at risk with administration of the live attenuated virus in the zoster vaccine. Other patients who are immunosuppressed, including those with AIDS/HIV disease, leukemia, or lymphoma, and those taking particular immune modulators, should be advised to not receive the vaccine (SOR C). Patients on high-dose corticosteroids (>20 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) for 2 or more weeks should be advised not to receive the vaccine until at least 1 month after discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy (SOR C). Short-term corticosteroid therapy (<14 days) with a low-to-moderate dosage (<20 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent), topical corticosteroid therapy, and injections to treat musculoskeletal problems do not suppress the immune system to the point that administration of the vaccine is contraindicated.”
CDC recommends the shingle vaccine for people 60 and older. This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51% and Post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%. Zostavax is the trade name. It is given in one dose as a shot that can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/
How long does the immunity from the shingles vaccine last? 5 years.
Can you be vaccinated after having shingles? Yes, see below.
“People 60 years of age or older should get the shingles vaccine. They should get the vaccine whether or not they recall having had chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus as shingles. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans aged 40 and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the disease. There is no maximum age for getting shingles vaccine.
Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time you must wait after having shingles before receiving shingles vaccine, but generally, you should make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated.
The shingles vaccine is approved by the FDA for people aged 50 years and older. However, CDC does not have a recommendation for routine use of shingles vaccine in people 50 through 59 years old. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years, so adults vaccinated before they are 60 years old might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest.” https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html
Reference
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/