Researchers have found that adults aged 50 years and older experience long-term protection against herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) after receiving two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). The study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, showed that the adjuvanted RZV was effective in preventing HZ among adults aged 50 years and older.
The study involved a cohort of adults aged 50 years and older who received one or two RZV doses. Data from Kaiser Permanente Southern California were used to compare the outcomes between vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. The primary outcomes measured were HZ or PHN onset with an antiviral prescription within 7 days of diagnosis.
The results showed that adults who received two RZV doses had a significantly lower rate of HZ and PHN compared to those who did not receive vaccination. The adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) against HZ was 73.9%, while the aVE against PHN was 83.7%.
Subgroup analyses revealed varying levels of effectiveness across different age groups, ethnicities, and immunocompromised status. However, the researchers noted that the major limitation of this analysis was the relatively short follow-up duration.
The study’s findings underscore the importance of adhering to recommended vaccination schedules. The researchers concluded that the recombinant zoster vaccine is a valuable tool in preventing HZ and PHN among adults aged 50 years and older.
Source: https://www.vaccineadvisor.com/news/recombinant-zoster-vaccine-for-herpes-zoster-and-postherpetic-neuralgia