infections
Shingles
Prevention of Shingles
 Prevention by vaccinating children and adults who do not have immunity with the There are two Shingles Vaccine : a newer recombinant vaccine and an older, weakened live-virus vaccine. The older, live-virus vaccine is no longer available in the United States, but it remains available in many other nations. The newer recombinant vaccine contains only pieces of a virus. The recombinant vaccine is preferred and is recommended for healthy people aged 50 or over, regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox or shingles and regardless of whether they have been vaccinated with the older shingles vaccine. The recombinant vaccine is also recommended for adults 19 years and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed because of disease or therapy. The recombinant herpes zoster vaccine is given in two doses, injected into a muscle. The doses are given 2 to 6 months apart and at least 2 months after the older (weakened live-virus) vaccine for people who have had that vaccine. The recombinant vaccine significantly reduces the chance of getting shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia . When shingles occurs, taking Antiviral drugs may reduce the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia. 