2017.11.07 05:20
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is recommending newly-approved Shingrix (GSK) as the preferred vaccine for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged ≥50 years. ACIP recommends immunization for as many as 62 million additional adults in the US. The ACIP voted that Shingrix is:
Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What everyone should know about the shingles vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html. October 25, 2017. Accessed October 28, 2017.
Commentary:
Based on very strong data published 2 years ago in the New England Journal of Medicine, these recommendations represent an important advance in the prevention of herpes zoster.1 Shingles occurs in approximately half of individuals who live to 85 years of age, and it can cause long-term neuropathic pain. Prevention is important. The live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine, which is the current vaccine used in the US, is only 70% effective in preventing herpes zoster for persons aged 50 to 59 years, 64% for those 60 to 69 years, and 38% for those 70 years of age or older. The new vaccine discussed above, a recombinant subunit vaccine containing an adjuvant system, was evaluated in 15,411 participants who received either the vaccine (7,698 participants) or placebo (7,713 participants).2 During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, herpes zoster was confirmed in 6 participants in the vaccine group and in 210 participants in the placebo group. Vaccine efficacy in preventing herpes zoster was 97%, with little difference across age groups. This represents a remarkable advance over the previous live attenuated vaccine. The ACIP recommendation, once fully approved, will benefit our patients as effective prevention of herpes zoster and subsequent postherpetic neuralgia. —Neil Skolnik, MD
2017.11.07 05:33
2017.11.07 10:28
Thanks for the information.
I found this information via internet. KJ
Availability and Cost
Shingrix, according to a representative from its manufacturer, could be available by the end of November.
But the $280 cost for the two shots is not likely to be covered by insurance right away.
Schaffner says that ACIP anticipates that deductibles and co-pays aside, private insurers are likely to cover
the cost, as they generally do with Zostavax (which costs $213 for those who have to pay full price, according
to the CDC).
This should occur by early next year, but Medicare, he notes, may take a little longer. What’s probable is that
like Zostavax, Shingrix will be covered under Medicare Part D. That has posed coverage challenges for some
consumers.
2017.11.07 14:30
Thank you, Dr. Hwang, for the useful information.
It looks like we old folks need to have this new vaccine
regardless of whether we had one in the past or not
because what we had in the past, it says, is not good enough.