Shingles (also known as “Herpes zoster”) vaccination

Though there is no guaranteed disease prevention, vaccination can effectively prevent shingles. Most vaccines in the market have a protection rate of more than 50%. For individuals over aged 60, the protection rate is higher than 60%. Both men and women are suitable for vaccination. Even if patients develop shingles after vaccination, the duration is effectively shortened, chances for nerve pain (neuralgia) and degree of pain are reduced.

What are the available vaccines against shingles?

Shingles vaccines available in Hong Kong

Currently, there are two vaccines that can be given to prevent shingles in Hong Kong: Zostavax and Shingrix. A shingles vaccine is recommended for adults who are 50 years old or above.

Both Shingrix and Zostavax vaccines are available at our clinic.

What are the differences between Zostavax and Shingrix?

Comparison between Zostavax and Shingrix

Both Zostavax and Shingrix can decrease the risk of shingles. However, they differ in effectiveness, administration, side effects, etc.

Item	Zostavax	Shingrix
Technology platform	Live attenuated zoster vaccine	Recombinant, adjuvanted zoster vaccine
Injection method	Subcutaneous (injection underneath the skin)	Intramuscular (injection into the muscle)
Approved since	Approved in 2006	First FDA-approved in 2017
Number of dosages	1	2
Interval between dosage	N/A	Between two to six months
Efficacy*	More than 51%	More than 90%

*Depending on the age group and various factors

Below are common complications between the two vaccines:

Side effect	Zostavax	Shingrix
Redness at the site of injection	36%	39%
Pain at the site of injection	34%	86%
Swelling at the site of injection	26%	29%
Itching at the site of injection	7%	2%
Headache	1%	45%
Fever	2%	26%
Muscle pain	N/A	53%
Fatigue	N/A	51%

Both Shingrix and Zostavax vaccines are available at our clinic. Please seek advice from our doctor for vaccination(s) you may need.

Do I need vaccination?

Nearly 90% of HK residents carry varicella-zoster virus^[1], which could lead to shingles. It is crucial to understand what is at risk:

People over 50 years old
People diagnosed with COVID-19
High-Stress level
Diabetes
Asthma/COPD
Cardiovascular diseases
Chronic kidney disease
Autoimmune system diseases
Family history of Shingles
Cancer
AIDS

[1]Seroprevalence rates of varicella zoster virus antibodies

Shingles (also known as “Herpes zoster”) vaccination

Shingles vaccines available in Hong Kong

Comparison between Zostavax and Shingrix

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