Pharmacist Medication Insights: Shingrix for Herpes Zoster

Shingrix is a non-live, recombinant subunit vaccine given intramuscularly in two doses for the prevention of herpes zoster in adults aged 50 years and older.

The 2017 approval of Shingrix was based on phase 3 clinical trials that evaluated the vaccine's efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in more than 38,000 people. In a pooled analysis of these studies, Shingrix demonstrated efficacy against shingles greater than 90% across all age groups, as well as sustained efficacy over a follow-up period of 4 years. By preventing shingles, Shingrix also reduced the overall incidence of postherpetic neuralgia, a form of chronic nerve pain and the most common complication associated with shingles.