Zostavax

Zostavax is a vaccine that is used for adults 50 years of age or older to prevent shingles (also known as zoster).

Zostavax contains a weakened chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus). Zostavax works by helping your immune system protect you from getting shingles.

Zostavax is given as a single dose by injection under the skin.

Common side effects of Zostavax include redness, pain, itching, swelling, hard lump, warmth, or bruising where the shot was given.

Zostavax is a vaccine used in adults 50 years of age or older to prevent shingles (also known as zoster).

If you do get shingles even though you have been vaccinated, Zostavax may help prevent the nerve pain that can follow shingles in some people. Zostavax does not protect everyone, so some people who get the vaccine may still get shingles.

• Zostavax cannot be used to treat shingles, or the nerve pain that may follow shingles, once you have it.
• You should not get Zostavax to prevent chickenpox. 
• Children should not get Zostavax.

Zostavax is given as a single dose by injection under the skin.

• Hypersensitivity Reactions. Serious adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred with Zostavax.
• Transmission of Vaccine Virus. Transmission of vaccine virus may occur between those who receive Zostavax and susceptible contacts.
• Concurrent Illness. If you are sick (for example, in the presence of fever) or in patients with active untreated tuberculosis, receiving Zostavax is not recommended.  
• Limitations of Vaccine Effectiveness. Vaccination with Zostavax does not result in protection of all vaccine recipients. The duration of protection beyond 4 years after vaccination with Zostavax is unknown. The need for revaccination has not been defined. 

You should not get Zostavax if you:

• are allergic to any of its ingredients
• are allergic to gelatin or neomycin
• have a weakened immune system (for example, an immune deficiency, leukemia, lymphoma, or HIV/AIDS)
• take high doses of steroids by injection or by mouth
• are pregnant or plan to get pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Children should not get Zostavax. 

The most common side effects include:

• redness, pain, itching, swelling, hard lump, warmth, or bruising where the shot was given
• headache

The following additional side effects have been reported with Zostavax:

• allergic reactions, which may be serious and may include difficulty in breathing or swallowing. If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away.
• chickenpox
• fever
• hives at the injection site
• joint pain
• muscle pain
• nausea
• rash
• rash at the injection site
• shingles
• swollen glands near the injection site (that may last a few days to a few weeks)

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or unusual symptoms after you receive Zostavax. For a complete list of side effects, ask your health care provider.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you plan to get Zostavax at the same time you get Pneumovax 23 or the flu vaccine. Also, tell your doctor if take high doses of steroids. 

This is not a complete list of Zostavax drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Zostavax is not recommeded in pregnant women. It is not known whether Zostavax can cause harm to an unborn baby when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction potential. However, naturally occurring varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is known to sometimes cause harm to an unborn baby. Therefore, Zostavax should not be given to pregnant women, and women of child bearing age should avoid becoming preganant for 3 months after getting Zostavax.

Tell your doctor is you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if Zostavax crosses into human milk. Because some vaccines can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this vaccine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this vaccine. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Zostavax.