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Shingles Vaccine Meets Unprecedented Demand

Posted at 1:51 PM, Dec 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-10 15:51:37-05

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Even if you’re in good health, you may still be at risk if you’ve had chickenpox.

SHINGRIX (Zoster Vaccine Recombinant, Adjuvanted) is a vaccine indicated for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in patients 50 years and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of SHINGRIX, 2 to 6 months apart, to help prevent shingles and related complications, such as post-herpetic neuralgia. The most common side effects of SHINGRIX are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever and upset stomach.

SHINGRIX has been met with an unprecedented level of demand from patients and healthcare professionals. GSK has responded to this demand by significantly increasing and accelerating shipments of SHINGRIX this year.

More than 99 percent of those over 50 years of age are infected with the virus that causes shingles, which is why it is important to ensure that your viewers/listeners understand the importance of talking to their doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against shingles if they are 50 years and older.1

For more information about shingles and SHINGRIX, please visit: SHINGRIX.com

You can also visit the CDC website for answers to frequently asked questions about SHINGRIX: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/faqs.html