Herpes zoster prevention: A difficult problem to solve

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Herpes zoster (HZ) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its increasing incidence.
• Effective prevention and therapeutic strategies for HZ are urgently needed.
• Vaccine development is a key focus for managing HZ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and reactogenicity of available herpes zoster vaccines.
• To compare the current live attenuated HZ vaccine (LAHZV) with newer vaccine candidates.
• To inform future strategies for HZ prevention.

Main Methods:

• Review of collected data on LAHZV and adjuvanted recombinant subunit HZ vaccine (SUHZV).
• Analysis of immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and reactogenicity profiles.
• Comparative assessment of vaccine performance and cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• The licensed LAHZV demonstrates acceptable safety and reactogenicity with partial efficacy.
• LAHZV is highly cost-effective and recommended for widespread use.
• Preliminary data for SUHZV are promising, indicating potential for enhanced HZ prevention.

Conclusions:

• Current LAHZV provides a partially satisfactory solution for HZ prevention.
• SUHZV shows potential for improved efficacy, pending further studies.
• Advancements in vaccine technology are expected to enhance HZ prevention, particularly for older adults.