IMMUNIZATION – YOUR BEST PROTECTION

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Vaccines are the best way to protect against some very serious diseases. Protect against shingles with this safe and effective vaccine.   

In Ontario, the shingles vaccine is given, for a cost, to:

• adults 60 years of age and older

What is shingles?

• Caused by a virus resulting in a painful skin rash causing itching and tingling
• Most often localized on one side of the body, usually face or trunk
• Further symptoms may include fever, headache, chills and nausea
• Complications may include: pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation or death.

What causes shingles?

People who develop shingles had chickenpox at one time during their life. Following chickenpox disease, the virus becomes inactivated, however stays within the body in nerve cells. Shingles occurs when that same virus becomes reactivated. 

How safe is the shingles vaccine?

Very safe.  The only individuals who should not receive the shingles vaccine are those who:

• are ill with a fever or infection
• have had severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) to any of its components (gelatin or an antibiotic called neomycin)
• are younger than 60 years of age
• have a disease or is taking medication that lowers the body’s ability to fight infection
• have active, untreated tuberculosis
• have received the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Yellow Fever, or Japanese Encephalitis vaccine in the past month

What are the side effects that I should watch for after vaccination?

Serious side effects from the vaccine are very rare. Most adults have no problems following vaccination. Possible side effects include:

• redness and soreness where the needle was given
• chickenpox-like rash.  Transmission of the vaccine virus may occur rarely between people who have received the vaccine and have developed a chickenpox-like rash and others they have contact with.  If a rash develops, it should be kept covered.  If covering the rash is not possible, contact with high-risk people should be avoided.
• fever
• allergic reactions (ie. hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing) occur very rarely. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.    

Call your doctor if you develop any symptoms that are severe or last more than a few days.  Please note that serious side effects are very unlikely to occur and the benefits of the vaccine are much greater than the risks.

If you choose to receive this vaccine today, it is required that you wait three months before donating blood.

For more information on this vaccine, contact Public Health and ask to speak to a Public Health Nurse in the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program.