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Tom Frieden's avatar

Thanks Eric! Note: TWO THIRDS of Americans over age 50 haven't gotten the shingles vaccine. That's going to result in lots of avoidable suffering. For a rigorous review documenting efficacy against shingles, have a look at this ACIP document...written 8 years ago, before the committee was purged by ideologues and packed with people who have a financial interest in undermining confidence in vaccines. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5812314/

Eric Topol's avatar

Wow. Thanks Tom

JustRaven's avatar

So that article is still relevant despite being written in 2018, and at the time Shingrix was new (2017) and funnily there are some old-timers who still refer to it as "new" but it should be considered the current vaccine, and doesn't use live virus, unlike its predecessor Zostavax.

A good article I came across explains the Shingrix vaccine and its benefits.

https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/your-health/living-well/newer-shingles-vaccine-edges-out-its-predecessor

Jill Schireson's avatar

I am interested in my benefits as someone who got (mild) shingles 8 years after Zostavax. After my shingles, I did get a Shingrix vaccine.

dick scott's avatar

Like you I delayed as I had shingles twice. Got my first shot last month three weeks second. My second shingles same neurotome, blisters. Text then said not contagious. Even after the first shot I have an ache. Along that rib, different from THE RIB pain from stretching nerve highern up rib was opened to suture vessel to :0my LAD in 2013

Cat morris's avatar

Maybe a silly Q but what about people who get actual shingles? Has anyone studied the impact, if any, on dementia?

Eric Topol's avatar

I mentioned in the post we don't know

Mehul Kumar's avatar

Is it SAFE though? I had a dream that the shingles vaccine was "the work of the devil".

Eric Topol's avatar

Yeah, it can be tough for acute phase side effects. I was knocked out by Covid shots but tolerated SHingrix much better. It varies considerably But it sure looks like the benefit is worth going through the acute phase, potential 1-2 day side effects (2 shots months apart)

Mehul Kumar's avatar

I am not sure, sorry. Vaccines are not my specialty. I am more of a data scientist. I need to see data before I make any decisions. Cold hard data in the flesh. I did want to share that I experienced a dream though where the shingles vaccine was referred to as "the work of the devil", as described in my original post. There may be confounders to your viewpoint. I would strongly urge peer-review by qualified scientists in this sub-specialty. Especially in the fields of toxicology and rheumatology. Perhaps even a panel review. Thanks for reading and all the best with your endeavors. It is an honor to receive a response from you.

Kelvin Thompson's avatar

Typo fyi: "significantly educed beyond 4+ years"

And double-checking the previous paragraph: "[…]regression coefficients […] for having the shingles vaccine were associated with significantly *more* inflammation" (My asterisks.) I thought there was generally less inflammation with the vaccine?

Eric Topol's avatar

Thanks for picking these up. I’ll get them fixed

Susan Scheid's avatar

This is very welcome news. Thank you.

Y Adams's avatar

A very nice write up, thank you. I am actually discussing Eyting et al 2025 at our journal club tomorrow. Hopefully we can get a good discussion going. One of the questions I think this raises, is the role of adjuvants. If as the data is suggesting, there is a boost to the immune system in general, it does beg the question if adjuvant choice may contribute to the protection observed.

dick scott's avatar

I at18 hours past my shingles booster , I had a severe reaction. I could not stand pull myself up and felt weak. I has hot my scalo burning, Huge. Diuresis, I could not keep up drinking water. I had shingles twice same spot in 1970 and 1990. Second painless. My early decision not, was poor. The vicisous reaction a “proof” that there were many virus hanging around. Uncimfirtable but good, now one less thing to worry about as my immunity wanes