Wyandot County Public Health continues its commitment to protect the community through vaccination. WCPH is now administering “Shingrix”, a vaccine that has more than a 96% success rate across age groups 50 years and older in the prevention of shingles.
Nearly all older Americans have the varicella zoster virus lying dormant within their nervous systems just waiting to reactivate. Shingles, a painful and potentially serious disease that affects 1 in 3 people in the U.S., is caused by the reactivation of this virus, which is also the virus that causes chickenpox.
Shingles most commonly, but not always, appears as a painful, itchy rash developing on one side of the body. It can last for two to four weeks, or longer. The pain and severity of shingles increases with age due to the decline in the immune system which responds to infection. A person can experience, sometimes debilitating, neurological pain months to years after the shingles rash is gone.
An estimated 1 million cases of shingles are reported in the United States every year. VZV is present in more than 99 percent of persons 50 years and older. One third of Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime. According to MMWR, June, 2008, one half of adults aged 85 years and older will develop shingles.
Shingrix is a two dose series with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the initial dose. Shingrix is recommended even for those who were previously vaccinated against shingles with Zostavax.
Call 419-294-3852 for information and/or to schedule an appointment.
