Herpes Zoster Facts vs Fiction

The CDC recommends that healthy adults aged 50 years or older should receive two doses of Shingrix, 2-6 months apart, for the prevention of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. This is recommended even if individuals previously had shingles, received Zostavax, or are not sure whether they previously had chickenpox. The sale and use of Zostavax was discontinued in the United States, effective November 18, 2020.

Vaccination is recommended in persons with a reported history of zoster. Repeated zoster has been confirmed in immunocompetent persons soon after a previous episode. Although the precise risk for and severity of zoster as a function of time after an earlier episode are unknown, it may be comparable to the risk in persons without a history of zoster. Furthermore, no laboratory evaluations exist to test for the previous occurrence of zoster, and any reported diagnosis or history might be erroneous.

Read more on herpes zoster vaccination.

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Cite this: William James. Fast Five Quiz: Herpes Zoster Facts vs Fiction – Medscape – Sep 22, 2021.