A study at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California has found that adults receiving the herpes zoster vaccine are half as likely to develop shingles. The participants in the study were at least 60 years old and were tracked for up to 3 years after the vaccination.
Of every 1,000 people vaccinated, about 6 developed shingles each year, compared to 13 of every 1,000 people who were not vaccinated. The study results showed that for every 71 people who were vaccinated, 1 case of shingles was prevented.
The vaccine has been approved by the FDA, but the cost of the vaccine can be up to $200 for people whose insurance doesn’t cover it.
For more information about shingles and the herpes zoster vaccine, read the entire article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41039897/ns/health-infectious_diseases/.
