The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
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1535
December 4, 2017
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Shingrix - An Adjuvanted, Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccine
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December 4, 2017 (Issue: 1535)
Revised 1/26/18: See New Recommendations paragraph.

The FDA has approved an adjuvanted, recombinant varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine (Shingrix – GSK) for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in adults ≥50 years old. Shingrix is the second herpes zoster vaccine to be approved in the US; Zostavax, a live-attenuated VZV vaccine approved for the same indication, has been available since 2006.1,2

HERPES ZOSTER – Following primary infection, VZV persists in a latent form in sensory ganglia; VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) prevents reactivation and multiplication of latent virus. When CMI falls below a critical threshold, as it can in older and immunocompromised persons, VZV can reactivate, causing shingles and, occasionally, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and other complications. About 1 million cases of shingles occur in the US each year. ... more      

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