Vaccination because of shingles pain obsession

Many adults proactively get vaccinated against shingles because they have experienced excruciating pain from the disease or witnessed loved ones suffer from it.

Elderly people receive the shingles vaccine at the VNVC Vaccination Center.

Depression due to shingles pain.

One day at the end of October, Mr. NHĐ. (73 years old, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City) went to the VNVC Vaccination Center near his home to get vaccinated against shingles. He recounted that he discovered he had shingles in 2022 with the initial symptom being a cluster of blisters on his right arm. At the time, he thought it was from a fall and didn't seek medical attention, but he continued to feel intense pain even after the blisters had healed.

He was diagnosed with post-herpetic neuralgia by his doctor, which caused persistent nerve pain. Despite injections, pain medication, and attempts at meditation and yoga, the pain persisted, leading to depression.

When the pain subsided, upon hearing about the shingles vaccine, he proactively went to get vaccinated. There, the doctor advised him that vaccination would help reduce disease recurrence, thus also reducing the risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia.

Although she hadn't contracted shingles herself, witnessing her mother's suffering from the disease, Ms. LNP (50 years old, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City) and her husband went to VNVC to get vaccinated.

"My mother has been suffering from this illness for a whole month now. Her shingles has spread to her eyes, causing intense pain, making it difficult to see, and preventing her from eating or sleeping. Those who haven't had this disease often underestimate it, but once they do, they're terrified and just hope there's a vaccine available," said Mrs. P.

Dr. Le Thi Truc Phuong, a medical specialist at the VNVC Vaccination System, said that the shingles vaccine produced by GSK (Belgium) will be the first to be administered in Vietnam by the system starting October 4, 2024. This is an inactivated, recombinant vaccine with a special formula containing active ingredients, making it safe and highly effective for the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions, and those with weakened immune systems.

The shingles vaccine is given to people aged 50 and older, or those aged 18 and older with weakened immune systems due to illness, to prevent shingles and especially its complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia, encephalitis, paralysis, deafness, blindness, stroke, etc. The vaccination schedule consists of two doses, given two months apart for those aged 50 and older and one month apart for those aged 18 and older at high risk of developing shingles.

Since its launch, more than 200 VNVC centers nationwide have recorded tens of thousands of people receiving the shingles vaccine, with the majority being 50 years old and above, a group recommended for vaccination in many countries. Among them are many who have previously had shingles and are getting vaccinated to prevent recurrence and complications.

Shingles is on the rise.

According to Dr. Phuong, factors such as old age leading to immune system aging, weakened immunity due to illnesses or treatments, and psychological stress create favorable conditions for the development and recurrence of shingles.

The reactivated varicella zoster virus (VZV) that causes shingles is the same virus that causes primary chickenpox. After recovering from chickenpox, the virus is not completely eliminated but remains dormant in the nerve root ganglia. When the immune system is weakened, the virus reactivates and causes shingles.

Data from the Asia- Pacific region shows that the seropositivity rate for VZV is over 90% in adults, so most adults are at risk of developing shingles at some point in their lives, especially after age 50. According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 99% of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they don't remember it.

Experts predict that Vietnam's population is aging and suffering from numerous chronic diseases. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), people aged 60 and over in Vietnam accounted for nearly 12% of the total population in 2019 and this figure is projected to increase to over 25% by 2050. People over 60 years old typically suffer from 3-4 diseases, while those over 80 may have more than 6. Diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders are contributing factors to an increase in cases of shingles.

Dr. Vo Thi Doan Phuong, Head of Clinical Department 3 at the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, cited statistics from the hospital, stating that the number of patients seeking examination and treatment for shingles has been increasing in recent years. In 2022 and 2023, the hospital received nearly 9,500 visits for examination and treatment of shingles.

According to Dr. Phuong, shingles can cause many complications if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The most common complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia, which can last from several months to several years, seriously affecting the patient's quality of life.

In addition, shingles can lead to more dangerous complications such as secondary bacterial infections, polyneuritis, nerve paralysis, encephalitis-myelitis in cases of disseminated shingles, chronic conjunctivitis, and blindness if the rash affects the eye area.

People with underlying medical conditions have a higher risk of shingles recurrence.

Shingles is not a one-time occurrence; there is a risk of recurrence. Recurrence can occur in up to 5% of people who have had shingles. Particularly for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.), the recurrence rate after the first episode can be as high as 30%.

Individuals at risk of developing shingles with dangerous complications and who should receive early vaccination include: adults aged 50 and older; elderly individuals with underlying conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), musculoskeletal disorders, etc.; adults aged 18 and older at high risk of shingles (immunodeficiency, immunosuppression, or potential immunosuppression due to illness or ongoing treatment); individuals with HIV/AIDS; individuals with autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, etc.); hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients; individuals with malignant blood disorders, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy; patients with solid malignant tumors; and organ transplant recipients.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tiem-vac-xin-vi-am-anh-dau-do-zona-than-kinh-20241121170022951.htm