A Vaccine Against Herpes Zoster in Older People

With advancing age comes an increase in the incidence of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia and a decline in cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to varicella-zoster virus . . .

With advancing age comes an increase in the incidence of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia and a decline in cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Researchers conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether a single dose of a high-potency vaccine against VZV would decrease the incidence and severity of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. The vaccine’s manufacturer partially funded the study.

Participants were 38,546 immunocompetent people (age ≥60) who had histories of varicella or had lived in the continental U.S. for at least 30 years. Follow-up was conducted by telephone for a mean of 3.1 years. Patients with possible zoster infection were seen at the stu…

Reviewing Author

Burk Jubelt, MD