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Daily Maverick
30-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Understanding shingles: Risks, vaccination gaps, and the quest for better health solutions
The only shingles vaccine on the market in South Africa was discontinued in 2024. A newer and better vaccine is being used in some other countries, but has not yet been registered in South Africa, though it can be obtained by those with money who are willing to jump through some hoops. Shingles is a common and painful condition that mostly affects the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It generally appears with a telltale red rash and cluster of red blisters on one side of the body, often in a band-like pattern. 'Shingles is pretty awful to get – it's extremely painful, and some people can get strokes, vision loss, deafness and other horrible manifestations as complications,' said infectious disease specialist, Professor Jeremy Nel. 'Shingles really is something to avoid, if at all possible.' One way to prevent the viral infection is to get vaccinated. But while two vaccines against shingles have been developed and broadly used in the developed world, neither is available in South Africa. Two vaccines Zostavax, from the pharmaceutical company MSD, was the first vaccine introduced to prevent shingles. It was approved for use in the US in 2006 and in South Africa in 2011. It is 51% effective against shingles in adults over 60. A more effective vaccine, Shingrix, which is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles, was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the US in 2016. It is not yet authorised for use in South Africa, but GSK has submitted paperwork for approval with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), said company spokesperson Kamil Saytkulov. The superior protection offered by Shingrix compared with Zostavax quickly made it the dominant shingles vaccine on the market. As a result, MSD discontinued the production and marketing of Zostavax. MSD spokesperson Cheryl Reddy said Zostavax was discontinued globally in March 2024. Before then, the vaccine was sold in South Africa's private healthcare system for about R2,300, but it was never widely available in government clinics or hospitals. No registered and available vaccine Since Zostavax has been discontinued and Shingrix remains unregistered, the only way to access a vaccine against shingles in South Africa is by going through the onerous process of applying to Sahpra for a Section 21 authorisation – a legal mechanism that allows the importation of unregistered medicines when there is an unmet medical need. 'Access will only be available to those who are able to get Section 21 approval' and 'this is a costly and time-consuming process, requiring motivation by a doctor,' said Dr Leon Geffen, director of the Samson Institute for Ageing Research. The cost of the two-dose Shingrix vaccine imported through Section 21 authorisations is currently about R15,600, said Dr Albie de Frey, CEO of the Travel Doctor Corporate. People who seek Section 21 authorisation typically have to pay for this out of their own pockets. 'Shingrix is not covered [by Discovery Health] as it is unregistered in South Africa and is therefore considered to be a General Scheme Exclusion,' Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, told Spotlight. The Department of Health did not respond to queries about whether Section 21 processes are being pursued for priority patients in the public sector or whether there has been any engagement with GSK on the price of this product. People who receive organ transplants, for example, should be prioritised to receive the shingles vaccine since the medications they are given to suppress their immune system puts them at high risk of developing shingles. Why is the price of Shingrix so high? Unlike South Africa, where companies must sell pharmaceutical products at a single, transparent price in the private sector, the US has no such requirement. Even so, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pays $250 (R4,600) for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine through CDC contracts. This is less than a third of the charge when Shingrix is imported to South Africa. Equity Pharmaceuticals, based in Centurion, Gauteng, is importing GSK's Shingrix for patients who receive Section 21 authorisations to use the unregistered vaccine. It is unclear what price Equity Pharmaceuticals is paying GSK for Shingrix to be imported under Section 21 approvals, or what its mark-up on the medicine is. Asked about the price of Shingrix in South Africa, Saytkulov told Spotlight: 'Equity Pharmaceuticals is not affiliated with GSK, nor is it a business partner or agent of GSK. Therefore we cannot provide any comments with regards to pricing of a non-licensed product, which has been authorised for importation through Section 21.' Equity Pharmaceuticals also said it was difficult to comment on the price. 'The price of a Section 21 product depends on a number of fair considerations, including the forex rate, the quantity, transportation requirements, and the country of importation. Once the price and lead time are defined for an order, the information is shared with the healthcare provider to discuss with their patient and the medical aid,' the company's spokesperson, Carel Bouwer, said. Nematswerani pointed out that 'Section 21 pricing is not regulated' and that the price can change due to many factors including supplier costs, product availability and inflation. What causes shingles? Shingles is caused by the same highly infectious virus that causes chickenpox. Most people are infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during childhood. Chickenpox occurs when a person is first infected by VZV. When a person recovers from chickenpox, the VZV virus remains dormant in their body but can reactivate later in life as the immune system weakens. This secondary infection that occurs, typically in old age when the dormant virus reactivates, is called shingles. People who were naturally infected with chickenpox, as well as those vaccinated against chickenpox with a vaccine containing a weakened form of the VZV virus, can get shingles later in life. But, people who were vaccinated against chickenpox have a significantly lower risk of developing shingles later in life compared with those who naturally contracted chickenpox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The chickenpox vaccine is available in South Africa's private sector but is not provided in the public sector as part of the government's expanded programme on immunisation. Chickenpox is usually mild in most children, but those with weakened immune systems at risk of severe or complicated chickenpox should be vaccinated against it, said Professor James Nuttall, a paediatric infectious diseases sub-specialist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town. Who should be vaccinated against shingles? South Africa does not have guidelines for who should receive the shingles vaccine and when. The US CDC recommends that all adults older than 50 receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. It also recommends that people whose immune systems can't defend their body as effectively as they should, like those living with HIV, should get the vaccine starting from age 19. While Shingrix works better than Zostavax at preventing shingles, it has other advantages that make it a safer and better option for people with weak immune systems. The Zostavax vaccine contains a weakened live form of the VZV virus and thus poses a risk of complications in people with severely weakened immune systems. 'In the profoundly immunosuppressed, the immune system might not control the replication of this weakened virus,' explained Nel. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain any live virus and therefore does not present this risk. In March 2025, the WHO recommended that countries where shingles is an important public health problem consider the two-dose shingles vaccine for older adults and people with chronic conditions. '[T]he vaccine is highly effective and licensed for adults aged 50 and older, even if they've had shingles before,' according to the WHO. It advised countries to weigh up how much the vaccine costs with the benefits before deciding to use it. The cost of not vaccinating against shingles The cost of not vaccinating against shingles is high for people who develop the condition, as well as the health system. '[T]he risk of getting shingles in your lifetime is about 20 to 30%… by the age of 80 years, the prevalence is almost 50%,' said Geffen. 'Shingles is often a painful, debilitating condition, with significant morbidity. It can result in chronic debilitating pain which affects sleep, mood and overall function,' he added. Beyond preventing shingles and its complications, new evidence suggests that getting the vaccine may also reduce the risk of developing dementia and heart disease. In April, a large Welsh study published in Nature reported that people who received the Zostavax vaccine against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia seven years after receiving it compared with those who were not vaccinated. In May, a South Korean study published in the European Heart Journal reported that people vaccinated against shingles had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart disease, for up to eight years after vaccination. DM
TimesLIVE
27-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Why most people in SA can't get the shingles vaccine
The only shingles vaccine on the market in SA was discontinued last year. A newer and better vaccine is being used in some countries, but has not yet been registered in SA, though it can be obtained by those with money who are willing to jump through hoops. Shingles is a common and painful condition that mostly affects the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It generally appears with a telltale red rash and cluster of red blisters on one side of the body, often in a band-like pattern. 'Shingles is pretty awful to get. It's extremely painful, and some people can suffer strokes, vision loss, deafness and other horrible manifestations as complications,' said infectious disease specialist Prof Jeremy Nel. 'Shingles is something to avoid, if at all possible,' he said. One way to prevent the viral infection is by getting vaccinated against it. However, while two vaccines against shingles have been developed and broadly used in the developed world, neither of these are available in SA. Zostavax, from the pharmaceutical company MSD, was the first vaccine introduced to prevent shingles. It was approved for use in the US in 2006 and in SA in 2011. It is 51% effective against shingles in adults over 60. Shingrix is not covered [by Discovery Health] as it is unregistered in SA and is therefore considered to be a general scheme exclusion Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health A more effective vaccine, Shingrix, which is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles, was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the US in 2016. It is not yet authorised for use in SA, but GSK has submitted paperwork for approval with the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), said company spokesperson Kamil Saytkulov. The superior protection offered by Shingrix compared to Zostavax quickly made it the dominant shingles vaccine on the market. As a result, MSD discontinued the production and marketing of Zostavax. MSD spokesperson Cheryl Reddy said Zostavax was discontinued globally in March 2024. Before then, the vaccine was sold in the private healthcare system for about R2,300, but it was never widely available in government clinics and hospitals. No registered and available vaccine Since Zostavax has been discontinued and Shingrix remains unregistered, the only way to access a vaccine against shingles is by going through the onerous process of applying to Sahpra for a section 21 authorisation, a legal mechanism that allows the importation of unregistered medicines when there is an unmet medical need. 'Access will only be available to those who are able to get section 21 approval' and 'this is a costly and time-consuming process requiring motivation by a doctor,' said Dr Leon Geffen, director of the Samson Institute For Ageing Research. The cost of the two-dose Shingrix vaccine imported through section 21 authorisation is about R15,600, said Dr Albie de Frey, CEO of the Travel Doctor Corporation. People who do go through the effort of getting section 21 authorisation typically have to pay the price themselves. 'Shingrix is not covered [by Discovery Health] as it is unregistered in SA and is therefore considered to be a general scheme exclusion,' Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, chief clinical officer at Discovery Health, told Spotlight. The department of health did not respond to queries regarding whether section 21 processes are being pursued for priority patients in the public sector or whether there has been any engagement with GSK regarding the price of the product. People who receive organ transplants, for example, should be prioritised to receive the shingles vaccine as the medications they are given to suppress their immune systems puts them at high risk of developing shingles. Unlike SA, where companies must sell pharmaceutical products at a single, transparent price in the private sector, the US has no such requirement. Even so, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pays $250 (R4,473) for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine through CDC contracts. This is less than a third of the price charged when Shingrix is imported into SA. Equity Pharmaceuticals, based in Centurion in Gauteng, is importing GSK's Shingrix for patients who receive section 21 authorisations to use the unregistered vaccine. It is unclear what price Equity Pharmaceuticals is paying GSK for Shingrix to be imported under section 21 approvals, or what is Equity Pharmaceuticals' mark up on the medicine. When asked about the price of Shingrix, Saytkulov said: 'Equity Pharmaceuticals is not affiliated with GSK nor is it a business partner or agent of GSK. Therefore, we cannot provide any comments with regards to pricing of a non-licensed product which has been authorised for importation through section 21.' Equity Pharmaceuticals also said it was difficult to comment on the price. 'The price of a section 21 product depends on a number of fair considerations, including the forex rate, the quantity, transportation requirements and country of importation. Once the price and lead time are defined for an order, the information is shared with the healthcare provider to discuss with their patient and the medical aid,' the company's spokesperson Carel Bouwer told Spotlight. Nematswerani said 'section 21 pricing is not regulated' and prices can change due to many factors including supplier costs, product availability and inflation. Shingles is caused by the same highly infectious virus that causes chickenpox. Most people are infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during childhood. Chickenpox occurs when a person is first infected by VZV. When a person recovers from chickenpox, the VZV virus remains dormant in their body but can reactivate later in life as one's immune system weakens. The secondary infection that occurs, typically in old age when the dormant virus reactivates, is called shingles. People who were naturally infected with chickenpox, and those vaccinated against chickenpox with a vaccine containing a weakened form of the VZV virus, can get shingles later in life. However, people who were vaccinated against chickenpox have a significantly lower risk of developing shingles later in life compared to those who naturally contracted chickenpox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The chickenpox vaccine is available in the private sector but is not provided in the public sector as part of government's expanded programme on immunisation. Chickenpox is usually mild in most children, but those with weakened immune systems at risk of severe or complicated chickenpox should be vaccinated against it, said Prof James Nuttall, a paediatric infectious diseases sub-specialist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town. Who should be vaccinated against shingles? SA does not have guidelines regarding who should receive the shingles vaccine and when they should receive it. The US CDC recommends all adults older than 50 receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. They also recommend people whose immune systems can't defend their body as effectively as it should, such as those living with HIV, should get the vaccine starting from age 19. While Shingrix works better than Zostavax to prevent shingles, it has other advantages that make it a safer and better option for people with weak immune systems. The Zostavax vaccine contains a weakened live form of the VZV virus and thus poses a risk of complications in people with severely weakened immune systems. 'In the profoundly immunosuppressed, the immune system might not control the replication of the weakened virus,' explained Nel. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain any live virus and therefore does not present the risk. In March this year, the WHO recommended countries where shingles is an important public health problem consider the two-dose shingles vaccine for older adults and people with chronic conditions. 'The vaccine is highly effective and licensed for adults age 50 years and older, even if they've had shingles before,' according to the WHO. It advised countries to look at how much the vaccine costs compared to the benefits before deciding to use it. The cost of not vaccinating against shingles is high for people who develop the condition, and the health system. 'The risk of getting shingles in your lifetime is about 20 to 30%. By the age of 80 years the prevalence is almost 50%,' said Geffen. 'Shingles is often a painful debilitating condition, with significant morbidity. It can result in chronic debilitating pain which affects sleep, mood and overall function,' he said. Beyond preventing shingles and its complications, new evidence suggests getting the shingles vaccine may also reduce one's risk of developing dementia and heart disease. In April, a large Welsh study published in Nature reported people who got the Zostavax vaccine against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia seven years after receiving the vaccine compared to those who were not vaccinated. In May, a South Korean study published in the European Heart Journal reported people vaccinated against shingles had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as strokes and heart disease, for up to eight years after vaccination.
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Why most people in South Africa can't get the shingles vaccine
The only shingles vaccine on the market in South Africa was discontinued last year. A newer and better vaccine is being used in some other countries, but has not yet been registered in South Africa, though it can be obtained by those with money who are willing to jump through some hoops. Shingles is a common and painful condition that mostly affects the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. It generally appears with a telltale red rash and cluster of red blisters on one side of one's body, often in a band-like pattern. 'Shingles is pretty awful to get – it's extremely painful, and some people can get strokes, vision loss, deafness and other horrible manifestations as complications,' said infectious disease specialist Professor Jeremy Nel. 'Shingles really is something to avoid, if at all possible,' he added. One way to prevent the viral infection, is by getting vaccinated against it. But while two vaccines against shingles have been developed and broadly used in the developed world, neither of these are currently available in South Africa. TWO VACCINES Zostavax, from the pharmaceutical company MSD, was the first vaccine introduced to prevent shingles. It was approved for use in the United States in 2006 and in South Africa in 2011. It is 51% effective against shingles in adults over 60. A more effective vaccine, Shingrix, that is over 90% effective in preventing shingles was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the United States in 2016. It is not yet authorised for use in South Africa, but GSK has submitted paperwork for approval with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), said the company spokesperson, Kamil Saytkulov. The superior protection offered by Shingrix compared to Zostavax quickly made it the dominant shingles vaccine on the market. As a result, MSD discontinued the production and marketing of Zostavax. MSD spokesperson Cheryl Reddy said Zostavax was discontinued globally in March 2024. Before then, the vaccine was sold in South Africa's private healthcare system for about R2,300, but it was never widely available in government clinics or hospitals. NO REGISTERED AND AVAILABLE VACCINE Since Zostavax has been discontinued and Shingrix remains unregistered, the only way to access a vaccine against shingles in South Africa is by going through the onerous process of applying to SAHPRA for a Section 21 authorisation – a legal mechanism that allows the importation of unregistered medicines when there is an unmet medical need. The cost of the two-dose Shingrix vaccine imported through Section 21 authorisations is currently around R15,600, said Dr Albie de Frey, CEO of the Travel Doctor Corporation. People who do go through the effort of getting Section 21 authorisation typically have to pay this price out of their own pockets. 'Shingrix is not covered [by Discovery Health] as it is unregistered in South Africa and is therefore considered to be a General Scheme Exclusion,' Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Chief Clinical Officer at Discovery Health, told Spotlight. The Department of Health did not respond to queries regarding whether Section 21 processes are being pursued for priority patients in the public sector or whether there has been any engagement with GSK regarding the price of this product. People who receive organ transplants, for example, should be prioritised to receive the shingles vaccine, as the medications they are given to suppress their immune system put them at a high risk of developing shingles. WHY IS THE PRICE OF SHINGRIX SO HIGH? Unlike South Africa, where companies must sell pharmaceutical products at a single, transparent price in the private sector, the United States has no such requirement. Even so, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pays $250 or R4,600 for the two-dose Shingrix vaccine through CDC contracts. This is less than a third of the price charged when Shingrix is imported into South Africa. Equity Pharmaceuticals, based in Centurion in Gauteng, is importing GSK's Shingrix for patients that receive Section 21 authorisations to use the unregistered vaccine. It is unclear what price Equity Pharmaceuticals is paying GSK for Shingrix to be imported into South Africa under Section 21 approvals, or what Equity Pharmaceuticals' mark up on the medicine is. When asked about the price of Shingrix in South Africa, Saytkulov told Spotlight: 'Equity Pharmaceuticals is not affiliated with GSK nor is it a business partner or agent of GSK. Therefore, we cannot provide any comments with regards to pricing of a non-licensed product, which has been authorised for importation through Section 21.' Equity Pharmaceuticals also said it was difficult to comment on the price. 'The price of a Section 21 product depends on several fair considerations, including the forex rate, the quantity, transportation requirements, and the country of importation. Once the price and lead time are defined for an order, the information is shared with the healthcare provider to discuss with their patient and the medical aid,' the company's spokesperson, Carel Bouwer, told Spotlight . Nematswerani pointed out that 'Section 21 pricing is not regulated' and that price can change due to many factors, including supplier costs, product availability, and inflation. WHAT CAUSES SHINGLES? Shingles is caused by the same highly infectious virus that causes chickenpox. Most people are infected with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during childhood. Chickenpox occurs when a person is first infected by VZV. When a person recovers from chickenpox, the VZV virus remains dormant in their body but can reactivate later in life as one's immune system weakens. This secondary infection that occurs, typically in old age when the dormant virus reactivates, is called shingles. People who were naturally infected with chickenpox, as well as those vaccinated against chickenpox with a vaccine containing a weakened form of the VZV virus, can get shingles later in life. But, people who were vaccinated against chickenpox have a significantly lower risk of developing shingles later in life compared to those who naturally contracted chickenpox, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The chickenpox vaccine is available in South Africa's private sector but is not provided in the public sector as part of government's expanded programme on immunisation. Chickenpox is usually mild in most children, but those with weakened immune systems at risk of severe or complicated chickenpox should be vaccinated against it, said Professor James Nuttall, a paediatric infectious diseases sub-specialist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town. WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED AGAINST SHINGLES? South Africa does not have guidelines regarding who should receive the shingles vaccine and when they should receive it. The US CDC recommends that all adults over 50 receive the two-dose Shingrix vaccine. They also recommend that people whose immune systems can't defend their body as effectively as it should, like those living with HIV, should get the vaccine starting from age 19. While Shingrix works better than Zostavax at preventing shingles, it has other advantages that make it a safer and better option for people with weak immune systems. The Zostavax vaccine contains a weakened live form of the VZV virus and thus poses a risk of complications in people with severely weakened immune systems. 'In the profoundly immunosuppressed, the immune system might not control the replication of this weakened virus,' explained Nel. The Shingrix vaccine does not contain any live virus and therefore does not present this risk. In March 2025, the WHO recommended that countries where shingles is an important public health problem consider the two-dose shingles vaccine for older adults and people with chronic conditions. '[T]he vaccine is highly effective and licensed for adults aged 50 years and older, even if they've had shingles before,' according to the WHO. It advised countries to look at how much the vaccine costs compared to the benefits before deciding to use it. THE COST OF NOT VACCINATING AGAINST SHINGLES The cost of not vaccinating against shingles is high for people who develop the condition, as well as the health system. Beyond preventing shingles and its complications, new evidence suggests that getting the shingles vaccine may also reduce one's risk of developing dementia and heart disease. In April, a large Welsh study published in Nature reported that people who got the Zostavax vaccine against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia seven years after receiving the vaccine compared to those who were not vaccinated. In May, a South Korean study published in the European Heart Journal reported that people vaccinated against shingles had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart disease, for up to eight years after vaccination.
New York Post
06-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This vaccine lowers risk of heart attack and stroke by 26% — so why was it discontinued in the US?
The nerve! A type of herpes virus — the varicella-zoster virus — causes chickenpox in childhood and shingles later in life. Shingles travels along nerves, triggering a distinctive blistering rash and what some have described as the worst pain they have ever experienced. Advertisement 3 Shingles infections trigger a distinctive blistering rash and intense pain. ryanking999 – A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who've had chickenpox are at higher risk of shingles. Experts say vaccination is the most effective way to reduce this risk. Advertisement Now, a new study out of South Korea reports that a certain type of vaccine can offer benefits beyond lowering the risk of shingles — but it's no longer available in the US. The live zoster vaccine, which contains a weakened version of the shingles virus, can lower the risk of heart failure, a stroke, a heart attack or death from heart disease by 26% for up to eight years, according to research published Monday in the European Heart Journal. 'Our study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help lower the risk of heart disease, even in people without known risk factors,' said Dong Keon Yon from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul. 'This means that vaccination could offer health benefits beyond preventing shingles.' Advertisement 3 Experts say vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of developing shingles. Getty Images South Korea offers two live zoster vaccines — SkyZoster was approved in 2017 and Zostavax in 2009. The US allowed Zostavax until 2020. Advertisement Researchers found that its effectiveness waned over time and it didn't protect everyone, such as people over 80 and those with weakened immune systems. Studies suggested that Zostavax was 67% effective in the first year but only 50% effective in year 2. It was replaced by Shingrix, a recombinant vaccine that uses a protein from the varicella-zoster virus to activate the body's immune system to recognize and fight the virus. Shingrix has been found to be over 90% effective in preventing shingles. 3 Shingles is most common in older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who've had chickenpox. Suriyawut – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that healthy adults 50 and older and immunocompromised adults 19 and older get two doses of Shingrix. Yon's team said more research on the recombinant vaccine is needed to see if it can provide similar cardio benefits as the live zoster vaccine. South Korea also offers Shingrix. Yon's study included data from over 1.2 million adults 50 and over in South Korea. Advertisement The protective effect was strongest in the two to three years after vaccination and especially pronounced in men, people younger than 60 and those who smoke, drink alcohol or avoid exercise. 'This is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies following a healthy general population over a period of up to 12 years,' Yon said. 'For the first time, this has allowed us to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease,' he added. 'We were able to account for various other health conditions, lifestyle factors and socioeconomic status, making our findings more robust.' Yon noted that the study does not establish a direct causal relationship between the vaccine and the lower risk of heart problems, so underlying factors should be considered.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Shingles vaccine lowers risk of heart disease for 8 years, study finds
Getting a shingles vaccine may help with more than the viral infection that causes painful rashes — new research shows it can also lower the risk of heart disease. In the study, published Monday in the European Heart Journal, researchers found people given the shot had a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease, for up to 8 years. The study examined more than 1 million people aged 50 or older with data from 2012 onward. The protective effect was particularly prominent in men, people under 60 and those who smoke, drink or aren't active, the study found. Dong Keon Yon, a professor from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, who led the study, said in a news release that there are several reasons why the shingles vaccine may help reduce heart disease. "A shingles infection can cause blood vessel damage, inflammation and clot formation that can lead to heart disease. By preventing shingles, vaccination may lower these risks," he explained. "Our study found stronger benefits in younger people, probably due to a better immune response, and in men, possibly due to differences in vaccine effectiveness." The vaccine analyzed was a live zoster vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles. Not everyone can take the live vaccine, however, including those with certain immune system conditions, and some countries are replacing it with non-live, recombinant vaccines. The United States is among the countries that use the new vaccine, Shingrix, which was introduced in 2017. The vaccine, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles. It replaced the previously used single-dose live vaccine, Zostavax, by Merck. "Since the live zoster vaccine is not suitable for everyone, more research on the recombinant vaccine is needed" to confirm if it has a similar impact, Yon said, adding that the study also does not establish a direct causal relationship. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already recommends everyone get the two-dose shingles vaccine starting at age 50. Shingles, which causes a painful rash, is caused by the same virus behind chickenpox. The virus lies dormant in people who've had chickenpox and years later can reactivate as shingles. The risk of shingles also increases with age, particularly in those older than 50, according to the CDC. This isn't the first time a shingles vaccine has been shown to have other possible health benefits. A study last year found latest shingles shot also seems to delay the onset of dementia, a memory-impairing condition. In that study, published in Nature Medicine in July, researchers found people who got the vaccine lived, on average, an additional 164 days without a dementia diagnosis compared to those who received the previous shingles vaccines. "The fact that we have a vaccine that's already approved, already out there, covered by insurance, super easy to get. The fact that that is showing this kind of level of protection is really promising for a lot," Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said on "CBS Mornings" at the time.
