Shingles is a painful skin eruption caused by a virus called Varicella-Zoster (or VZ for short). This virus causes "chicken pox" typically during our adolescent years and then remains in the body in an inactive form for years. Unfortunately, it can be re-activated later in life and cause shingles. Because the virus tends to re-activate along the nerve in our abdomen or side, it can cause a lot of pain as well as a skin eruption.

So, how or why does this happen? It's because our immune system weakens as we get older and that puts us at a high risk of developing cancers and infections ... and shingles. In fact, by the time we reach 80, at least half of us will have suffered from shingles. In some people, the nerve pain will disappear in a few months, but in some it can last a long time which means that the pain can continue for months or even years. Anyone who has had shingles will tell you there is a great need for medicines that help bring relief but are not addicting or cause worrisome side effects.

When we have chicken pox as a kid, our body develops an immunity to the virus which prevents us from getting it again. But, as we said above, as we grow older this immunity weakens (like a lot of other things, right?) and the VZ virus causes shingles. That's where vaccines come into play. By giving a vaccination of live VZ virus (which is changed so that it is not likely to cause an infection), attacks of shingles can be reduced because of the improved immunity because of the vaccine. The current recommendation is that all adults over the age of 60 receive this live VZ vaccine. Some scientists feel that people over 50 should also receive the vaccine.

Some patients have a weak immune system because of other medical problems, such as those who have had an organ transplant, cancer patients, and anyone taking immune suppressant medications such as people with severe rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. For these people it is not wise to give the live VZ vaccine as they may develop a bad virus infection. However, if a VZ vaccine could be developed that does not have the potential of causing the infection that would avoid the problem.

So now, you are right up to the cutting edge of science. A VZ vaccine that does not cause infection has been developed. In preliminary testing, this vaccine appears to work well. In fact, it appears to offer even more immunity that the live VZ vaccine.

National Clinical Research is currently evaluating this new VZ vaccine in people who are over 50 years of age to demonstrate that it is more effective at reducing the occurrence of shingles. In this study, participants receive either the real VZ vaccine or a placebo. After the study, everyone who received placebo is guaranteed to receive the real vaccine. And all of the medical care required and the vaccine itself is provided at no cost. You can't lose. To learn more, call 755-2300 or fill out an interest form on this website.