A popular explanation for the increase in zoster cases is the chickenpox vaccine, but in reality that is unlikely
Zoster has been increasing over the last couple of decades in Australia and overseas. A popular explanation is that widespread vaccination against chickenpox is reducing immunity to shingles.
“It is suggested that exposure to chickenpox disease may boost a person’s immunity to the varicella-zoster virus and reduce risk for reactivation in the form of shingles,” CDC says.
“Therefore, less exposure to children with chickenpox could in theory lead to an increase in shingles in adults.”
This seems unlikely, particularly as two studies by the CDC found that the increase in shingles started prior to the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine, and that rates of shingles did not increase after the varicella vaccination program began.
“The rise of shingles predates that program,” says Dr Frank Beard, a public health physician at NCIRS.
“So [the vaccination program] is thought that may be part of it but a large part is due to the population getting older and people having more chronic medical conditions, which reduce their immunosuppressive medication and medical conditions.”
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This video covers:
Should patients who have had shingles still be vaccinated?
Should patients who are immunocompromised be vaccinated for zoster?
