Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine

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The ACIP to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted Wednesday, October 25, 2006, to recommend a newly licensed zoster vaccine, Zostavax manufactured by Merck, to protect against shingles be given to all people age 60 and older, including those who have had a previous episode of shingles.

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r061026.htm

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Shingles Links

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Herpes Zoster Vaccine (Shingles): http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vac-faqs.htm
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/default.htm
Shingles (Herpes Zoster): http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/dis-faqs.htm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Product Approval Information - Licensing Action: http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/zosmer052506.htm

American Academy of Family Physicians Clinical Care & Research
Provisional Recommendation for Use of Zoster Vaccine: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/immunizationres/zoster.html

Merck
Zostavax: http://www.zostavax.com/
Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program: http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/vaccines/home.html

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Shingles News Archive

 Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)

The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to announce the release of an interim Shingles (zoster) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) dated 9/11/06. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a new vaccine to reduce the risk of shingles (herpes zoster), Zostavax, on May 25, 2006. A single dose of shingles vaccine is indicated for adults 60 years of age and older. When the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) votes and releases their recommendations, a final VIS edition will be published. Once a VIS is available it should be used effective immediately. The VIS can be viewed online at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-shingles.pdf [83K PDF] and http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm.

VISs are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to vaccine recipients, their parents, or their legal representatives both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out whenever (before each dose) certain vaccinations are given.

For more details about VISs, access the CDC and Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) VIS web pages at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm and http://www.immunize.org/vis/.

Please note: The shingles vaccine is not distributed by the Florida Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

You may call Phyllis Yambor for questions regarding the vaccine recommendations at 850-245-4342 or SUNCOM 205-4342