[Vaccination against the herpes zoster virus]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Herpes zoster (shingles) poses a significant health risk, particularly for older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
• The development of effective vaccines is critical for preventing herpes zoster reactivation and its associated complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest evidence on the herpes zoster vaccine.
• To analyze vaccine efficacy, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety.
• To provide current vaccination recommendations.

Main Methods:

• A secondary, descriptive qualitative review was conducted.
• Searches used terms "herpes zoster vaccine" and "Adjuvanted recombinant Herpes Zoster subunit vaccine".
• Data from 21 clinical trials and randomized clinical trials published between 2013-2023 were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Vaccine efficacy in preventing viral reactivation and complications was consistently over 80%.
• Vaccine effectiveness after two doses also exceeded 80%.
• Cost-effectiveness was favorable across adult populations, including immunocompromised and chronically ill individuals. Safety profiles were very high, with severe adverse events comparable to placebo.

Conclusions:

• A safe and highly effective vaccine against herpes zoster is available.
• This vaccine provides crucial protection for vulnerable populations against the virus.