A team of researchers from the GSK pharmaceutical company has developed a shingles vaccine that is more than 97% effective in people over 70 years of age.
A new inactivated shingles vaccine gives 97% efficacy in those over 70 years of age. This is what researchers from the GSK pharmaceutical laboratory report in the scientific journal New England Journal of Medicine at the beginning of May.
Shingles is characterized by a painful rash. It is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. This occurs many years after contracting chickenpox, as a result of aging or immunosuppression.
50% of those over 80
The older a person gets, the greater their risk of developing shingles. Thus, more than 20% of adults after 50 are likely to be affected. But it is especially the oldest people who are most at risk: after 80 years, one in two seniors suffers from this infectious pathology. Prevention of shingles is therefore an important issue.
To assess the effectiveness of the HZ / su vaccine, scientists conducted a phase III randomized placebo-controlled trial, including more than 15,000 healthy people. Two doses of vaccine were administered to the vaccination group. The volunteers were followed for 3 years. The results confirm optimal protection, regardless of the patient’s age. In addition, the side effects appear to be minimal (local pain, fever).
Daniel Floret, Chairman of the Technical Committee for Vaccinations of the High Council for Public Health: “These results are very interesting since we are beyond 90% protection and the data are in favor of an effectiveness that does not change with age. This is something quite impressive. “
More effective than the current vaccine
However, the lack of follow-up beyond 3 years does not allow a conclusion to be drawn on a longer-term efficacy. Also, additional work is necessary to determine the duration of protection. The efficacy of the vaccine in immunocompromised people remains to be studied.
However, this study marks an important step in the prevention of shingles in the elderly, with the hope of a more effective vaccine than that currently marketed in the world. Recommended in France since 2013, but unavailable, the protection conferred by Zostavax (Sanofi Pasteur MSD laboratories) diminishes after 10 years and is only effective at around 51%.
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