Shingles Vaccine Has 2 Limitations – Breaking News – Free Health Network

▲ Herpes zoster on the right back and right chest. (Photo provided / Lin Xinyi)

Text/Kinki Hayashi

Mrs. Chen is a diabetic. After suffering from the new crown virus last year, she unfortunately got shingles again this year. The neuralgia complication for half a year made her feel that life is better than death. During the treatment process, her family asked if the new crown virus has Is there a vaccine for post-herpetic neuralgia?

Postherpetic neuralgia pain is moderate to severe

Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common complication of shingles. Shingles can occur at any age, especially after the age of 50. If you have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, etc., the incidence rate will be higher.

Shingles, commonly known as skin snake, is because of chickenpox, the virus is latent in the body, and it will recur when you are old or your immune system is weak, or when you have a chronic disease.

The degree of herpes zoster neuralgia goes beyond chronic “cancer pain”, “labor pain”, etc. It feels like abnormal pain from burning, electric shock, and acupuncture. Among patients with post-herpetic neuralgia, about 2/ 3 is moderate to severe pain.

Prevention methods that can be done in daily life, such as reducing stress, taking nutrients evenly, avoiding staying up late, etc., can be used as usual prevention. In addition, vaccination against shingles is currently known to have the most “defensive power” against shingles neuralgia. Way.

At present, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has approved two shingles vaccines. The first attenuated live vaccine was approved in 2008, and the second inactive recombinant vaccine was approved in 2021.

The efficacy of the live attenuated vaccine in the prevention of shingles neuralgia was about 67%, which decreased to about 35.4% after 7-10 years; the efficacy of the second inactive recombinant vaccine in the prevention of shingles neuralgia was about 88.8% (over 70 years old). ) and 91.2% (50 to 69 years old). The live attenuated vaccine requires one dose, and the inactive recombinant vaccine requires two doses.

Live attenuated vaccines are not recommended for immunodeficiency

At present, the Association of Dermatology recommends inactive recombinant vaccines for people over 80 years old and high-risk groups (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, etc.) over the age of 80 and 18-50 years old; for immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients, attenuated active vaccines are not recommended Shingles vaccine.

Similar to other vaccines, a small number of people still have adverse reactions such as pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, etc., which are generally noticed by patients.

After hearing the explanation, Mrs. Chen’s family decided to administer an inactive recombinant vaccine.

(The author is the attending physician of the Department of Dermatology of Shuanghe Hospital)

▲Clustered lesions of herpes zoster on the left back. (Photo provided / Lin Xinyi)

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