Vaccination against shingles – yes or no?

prevention
Vaccination against shingles – is it necessary?

There are some vaccinations that are particularly recommended for older people, the most well-known being the one against influenza. Some time ago, another one was added: the vaccination against shingles. The most important questions about cash register performance.

Shingles: what is the risk?

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox (and in Germany that is almost everyone over 60) can get shingles. Because the chickenpox virus herpes zoster nests permanently in the nervous system and can become active again decades later if the immune system weakens due to age or illness. Statistically, out of 1,000 people in their 70s (70 to 79 years) get shingles in one year, and women more often than men – that’s no small risk. And: You can get sick repeatedly.

How does shingles manifest itself?

It is initially noticeable through nerve pain, which practically always affects only one half of the body and occurs mainly on the trunk, but also on the face. The characteristic skin rash, which resembles chickenpox, only appears after a few days: red spots turn into liquid-filled blisters that crust over after a few days. Sometimes an excruciating itching develops. Before the scabs fall off, shingles is contagious to anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or hasn’t been vaccinated—though they don’t get shingles themselves, they get chickenpox. The rash will heal within a few weeks, and that is the end of it for most people.

Why vaccination for a seemingly harmless disease?

The problem is the pain. Approximately every tenth person affected develops severe nerve pain, which can last for months, years or even life – and is very difficult to control even with painkillers. And the older you get, the higher your risk of developing this extremely distressing complication. Vaccination is therefore recommended for older people in particular, as well as for people over 50 who have an increased risk of pain – either because they are taking medication such as cortisone or cancer drugs (which suppress the immune system) or because they have a chronic illness such as rheumatism, asthma or diabetes .

Why is vaccination recommended only now? A vaccine has been around for a long time.

Vaccination was not recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) until the beginning of 2019. Because the previous vaccine was a so-called live vaccine, which, albeit very rarely, could have serious side effects. And it was also not convincing because the effect was sometimes too weak and didn’t last long enough.

But now there is a so-called dead vaccine that does not contain any living viruses, but only certain virus components. Its protective effect is better, it is also over 90 percent for older people. And anyone who gets shingles despite vaccination still has an advantage: the infection is then milder and the likelihood of a severe pain syndrome is lower. No serious side effects were observed, but one in ten had a relatively severe local reaction, i.e. swelling and redness at the puncture site.

Do I have to go to the doctor now?

Two injections at intervals of two to six months are necessary for effective prevention. Long-term studies will show how long the vaccine protection will last, but in any case longer than five years. Studies have shown that the new vaccine can easily be given at the same time as a flu vaccine. Anyone who is still being vaccinated against the flu anyway does not need to make an extra doctor’s appointment.

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Bridget