Shingrix has been in the news recently due to the expansion of eligibility for the shingles vaccine by the NHS in England. The National Health Service has extended access to the vaccine to individuals over 50, those severely immunocompromised, and those turning 65 and 70. This move aims to reduce the incidence of shingles, a painful disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
Shingrix is a vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50 and older. It is a recombinant subunit vaccine that contains a protein found in the varicella-zoster virus. The vaccine is administered in two doses, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first. Shingrix has shown high efficacy in preventing shingles and its complications, making it a valuable tool in reducing the burden of this disease. The expansion of eligibility for the Shingrix vaccine by the NHS reflects the importance of vaccination in protecting vulnerable populations from shingles.