Vaccine significantly decreased herpes incidence in older adults

Herpes zoster vaccine was well tolerated and significantly decreased herpes zoster incidence by almost 70% in adults aged 50 to 59 years.  

Compared with 99 cases of herpes incidence (1.99 per 1,000 person-years) in those assigned placebo, there were only 30 cases (6.57 per 1,000 person-years) among those assigned the herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax, Merck).

Kenneth E. Schmader, MD, chief of the division of geriatrics at Duke University, and colleagues assigned patients aged 50 to 59 years to either one dose of the vaccine (n=11,211) or to placebo (n=11,228). Patients were then followed for a mean of 1.3 years after vaccination until 96 or more cases of herpes were confirmed in the overall cohort.   

Results indicated a 69.8% vaccine efficacy (95% CI, 54.1-80.6). Further, adverse events were reported by 72.8% of those in the vaccine group and in 41.5% of those assigned placebo.

In an accompanying editorial, Hong-tian Li, PhD, of Peking University Health Science Center, and colleagues wrote that: “There is a need to investigate the long-term impacts of varicella vaccination on the incidence of herpes zoster among those who have received varicella vaccine. Moreover, Zostavax vaccination has currently been targeted toward immunocompetent older people. To develop a vaccine targeted toward immunocompromised individuals, who are more susceptible to the reactivation of varicella vaccine, should have much more practical significance.”

Disclosure: The study was supported by Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp., and Dr. Schmader reports receiving grant payments from Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp.