From the Guidelines
No, Shingrix cannot cause herpes zoster (shingles) in others. Shingrix is a non-live recombinant vaccine that contains only a protein from the varicella-zoster virus, not the actual virus itself, as stated in the study by 1. This means it's impossible for the vaccine to cause shingles or chickenpox in the person receiving the vaccine or in people around them.
Key Points
- Shingrix is administered as a two-dose series, with the second dose given 2-6 months after the first dose, to adults 50 years and older to prevent shingles.
- Unlike the older shingles vaccine (Zostavax), which contained a weakened live virus and had theoretical transmission concerns, Shingrix has no viral components that could replicate or spread, as noted in the study by 1.
- People who receive Shingrix can safely interact with others, including those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, or unvaccinated individuals, without any risk of transmitting the virus.
- The most common side effects of Shingrix are pain and redness at the injection site, muscle pain, fatigue, and headache, but these are simply immune responses to the vaccine, not an infection, as reported in the study by 1.
Vaccine Efficacy and Safety
The study by 1 demonstrated that Shingrix has a high vaccine efficacy of 97.2% in preventing HZ, and the pooled analysis of participants 70 years of age or older from the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 trials showed a vaccine efficacy of 91.3% against HZ and 88.8% against PHN.
Recommendations
Shingrix is a safe and effective vaccine for preventing shingles and its complications, and it can be safely administered to adults 50 years and older, including those with weakened immune systems, as recommended by the study by 1.
From the Research
Shingrix and Herpes Zoster Transmission
- There is no evidence to suggest that Shingrix, the recombinant zoster vaccine, can cause herpes zoster in others 2, 3.
- The vaccine is designed to prevent herpes zoster (shingles) in individuals who receive it, and it has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia 2, 4, 3, 5.
- The studies reviewed did not investigate the transmission of herpes zoster from individuals who have received the Shingrix vaccine to others.
- It is worth noting that herpes zoster is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox 6, 3, 5.
- The varicella-zoster virus can be spread from person to person through direct contact with the rash or by airborne transmission, but this is more likely to occur with chickenpox than with shingles 6, 5.
Vaccine Safety and Efficacy
- The Shingrix vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in preventing herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in adults aged 50 years and older 2, 4, 3, 5.
- The vaccine has been approved by the US FDA and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for adults 60 years and older, except for certain immunosuppressed patients 6, 3.
- The vaccine efficacy has been demonstrated in several studies, with an overall vaccine efficacy of 97.2% among participants 50 years of age or older 3.
- The vaccine has also been shown to reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, a common complication of shingles 2, 4, 5.