My friends said there is a varicella zoster vaccine that is not included in the health basket but can be purchased privately that can protect against shingles. Is this true? If it prevents a debilitating disease, why is it not supplied by the health funds? Are there any dangerous side effects? Can one get shingles without having had chickenpox or having been vaccinated against it? – L.R., Safed Prof. Dana Wolf, head of clinical virology unit of Hadassah University Medical Center in Ein Kerem, answers: It is true that post-herpetic neuralgia with serious pain for long periods as a result of shingles (the awakening of the varicella zoster virus) is significant, especially in the elderly.Zostavax vaccine in older people is meant to prevent the virus from awakening in the nerves. It significantly reduces the prevalence of the problem.It is important to stress that the vaccine is preventive and not treatment. It is not true that there is no treatment, as antivirals at an early stage can prevent or shorten the pain period of shingles.The vaccine exists today in the US and Europe, and it is now in the process of being registered in Israel; this should take only a few more weeks. As for the next stage, the Health Ministry’s advisory committee on vaccines decided recently to appoint a work group to recommend guidelines on this vaccine, and then it can be considered for addition to the basket of health services (if there is enough money for it and it is regarded as having high priority).Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting. Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 91000, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538-9527, or email it to jsiegel@jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.
Weight-loss 'woes'
Interesting side-effects to losing 15 kilos.
My friends said there is a varicella zoster vaccine that is not included in the health basket but can be purchased privately that can protect against shingles. Is this true? If it prevents a debilitating disease, why is it not supplied by the health funds? Are there any dangerous side effects? Can one get shingles without having had chickenpox or having been vaccinated against it? – L.R., Safed Prof. Dana Wolf, head of clinical virology unit of Hadassah University Medical Center in Ein Kerem, answers: It is true that post-herpetic neuralgia with serious pain for long periods as a result of shingles (the awakening of the varicella zoster virus) is significant, especially in the elderly.Zostavax vaccine in older people is meant to prevent the virus from awakening in the nerves. It significantly reduces the prevalence of the problem.It is important to stress that the vaccine is preventive and not treatment. It is not true that there is no treatment, as antivirals at an early stage can prevent or shorten the pain period of shingles.The vaccine exists today in the US and Europe, and it is now in the process of being registered in Israel; this should take only a few more weeks. As for the next stage, the Health Ministry’s advisory committee on vaccines decided recently to appoint a work group to recommend guidelines on this vaccine, and then it can be considered for addition to the basket of health services (if there is enough money for it and it is regarded as having high priority).Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting. Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 91000, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538-9527, or email it to jsiegel@jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.