ACIP: New Shingles Vaccine Recommendations

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released new recommendations regarding the use of the new herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The new recommendations are based on a review performed by the ACIP Herpes Zoster Vaccines Work Group from March 2015 to October 2017.

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According to the report, the ACIP recommends the following:

• The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV; Shingrix, GlaxoSmithKline, [GSK] Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) is recommended for use in immunocompetent adults aged 50 years or older.
• RZV is recommended for use in immunocompetent adults who previously received Zoster Vaccine Live (ZVL; Zostavax, Merck and Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey).
• RZV is preferred for use over ZVL.

The report also provides clinical guidance for appropriate use of the vaccine and addresses its use in special populations.

For a full version of the report, click here.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of herpes zoster vaccines. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:103-108. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6703a5.