Vaccine Update

The FDA licensed two new vaccines in 2006.

Shingles Vaccine-Zostavax

The first vaccine approved in May of 2006 was developed to reduce the risk of Shingles. Shingles (herpes zoster) is a disease caused by the varicella zoster Virus. This is the same virus that causes Chicken Pox. After having Chicken Pox, the virus lives quietly in the nervous system. It is possible for the virus to reappear as shingles at some point in the lifetime, typically occurring as people age. Shingles occurs in 2 of 10 people during their lifetime. Shingles is painful blistering rash that may cause persistent pain for months or years after the rash resolves.

Zostavax is a live virus vaccine that can help to prevent this illness and the risk of chronic pain which may affect older Americans. The vaccine is a single injection given under the skin. It potentially may reduce the risk of the disease by 64%. Of those that get the vaccine and still get the disease, it may reduce the length of the pain process. The most common side effects of the vaccine include redness, pain and tenderness at the injection site. In general, we are recommending this vaccine for adults age 60 and older.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine-Gardasil

The second vaccine approved in June of 2006 is known as Gardasil. This is the first vaccine ever developed to help prevent cervical cancer, pre-cancerous genital lesions and genital warts caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. The vaccine is approved for use in females age 9 to 26 years.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. Estimates suggest that 6.2 million Americans become infected with genital HPV yearly and that greater than 50% of all sexually active people become infected during their lifetime. The average number of new cervical cancer cases yearly are 9,710 and 3,700 deaths a year are attributed to the disease.

There are many different types of Human Papilloma Viruses. Most HPV types that infect women are cleared by the body's own defense system. Some HPV types can cause abnormal cells on the lining of the cervix which may turn into cancer years later. Other HPV types can cause genital warts. The vaccine is effective against the types that cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital wart cases. It is estimated to be 95% to 100% effective in studies to date.

Gardasil is a recombivant (not live) vaccine given as three shots over 6 months. Females are not protected if they have already been infected with the HPV types targeted by the vaccine prior to injection. Receiving the vaccine prior to the onset of sexual activity is recommended but not necessary. Side effects are mild to moderate local reaction at the injection site.

Further information as to whether these shots are appropriate for you may be obtained through your health care provider.