Another Reason to Get the New Shingles Vaccine
It reduces the risk of stroke.
Almost all of us have had chicken pox, caused by the herpes zoster virus. One third will get shingles at least once in their lifetime, translating into a million people a year in the US. Shingles is nearly always extremely painful for the first few months, but the great fear is that, for some, the pain never improves.
The zoster virus can cause inflammation in arteries in the brain and lead to stroke. Some studies show that it may also be the cause of giant cell arteritis, a condition that causes headache, and, if untreated, permanent blindness.
The new preferred Shingrix vaccine, approved in 2017, is 90% effective and advised for everyone over 50. It is a non-live vaccine that is safe for all, including persons with Multiple Sclerosis. The older vaccine which is 50% effective was found in a study of almost 1.4 million people from 2008 to 2016 to reduce stroke risk by 20%. The new vaccine has not been studied but is likely to be even more effective.
COVID-19, despite our president’s best efforts, will eventually be controlled. Shingles will be with us forever. Get the Shingrix vaccine.
The study was presented at the recent International Stroke Conference.
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