Shingles – Prevention

Transcript

Fortunately, there is a way to prevent shingles, which is recommended to use, particularly if you are elderly. There are two vaccines available, including Zostavax and Shingrix. The CDC states that obtaining a vaccine is the only way to reduce risk of developing shingles and post herpetic neuralgia. It is recommended in adults older than the age of 60 in which they may receive a single dose of the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is available from a healthcare professional as a prescription. For additional questions about the shingles vaccine, it is best to speak to your doctor or a pharmacist. However, there are individuals who may not be eligible to get the vaccine. Those patients who are immunocompromised or who have a weak immune system may need to wait to get the vaccine or may be not available to get vaccinated altogether. While the CDC does not have a particular recommendation for routine use of shingles vaccine in those 50 to 59 years of age, the vaccine is FDA approved for those who are older than the age of 50.