THE first adult addition to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) in a decade, Zostavax, marketed in Australia by CSL's vaccine arm Seqirus, has been announced by the Department of Health.
Herpes-zoster, aka shingles, is a painful blistering rash caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, aka the chickenpox virus.
Effective 01 Nov, people aged 70-79 years will be able to access the vaccine free of charge within the national scheme to help prevent this debilitating painful disease.
The shingles rash occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus is reactivated in the nerve tissue, causing inflammation of the nerves.
Sometimes pain in the affected region can be prolonged and if exceeding three months is labelled post herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
Two particularly dangerous complications are ophthalmic zoster, which occurs in up to 25% of shingles cases and the increased risk of stroke in sufferers.
Professor Dominic Dwyer, Clinical Professor at the Western Clinical School of the University of Sydney has indicated that as with other attenuated live vaccines, it is not recommended that Zostavax be administered outside of a full clinical support setting.
The vaccine may be concurrently administered with flu vaccine (an inactivated vaccine).
In terms of storage, Zostavax needs to be refrigerated (2 to 8C) until reconstituted and the diluent kept at room temperature.
More at www.seqirus.com.au.
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