New Zealanders flock to get shingles vaccine
New Zealanders flock to get shingles vaccine
ZOSTAVAX™ (Zoster Vaccine Live) supplies temporarily out of stock
Auckland, June 9th, 2014 – New Zealanders have flocked to surgeries in recent months to get the world’s first and only vaccine, ZOSTAVAX™, that helps protect against the acute and chronic pain of shingles. Shingles affects up to 1 in 3 people, who have had chickenpox, during their lives.
Demand for the vaccine has been so great that manufacturer, MSDNZ, has been out of stock for a couple of weeks. A new shipment has just arrived but there is a waiting list to clear, so it’s likely the vaccine will be out of stock again for several weeks towards the end of June.
“We knew there was some demand for this vaccine because of sales of a previous small supply but we’ve been completely bowled over by the numbers of New Zealanders requesting shingles vaccination”, comments Paul Smith, New Zealand Director, MSD. We are acting as quickly as we can to fill the backorders caused by the unexpectedly high demand we’ve experienced, which has accelerated over the last three months.
Mr Smith apologises for the stock outages and assures New Zealanders that from July onwards there should be sufficient stock to satisfy demand. The vaccine has been in short supply because it is complex to manufacture and global demand is high.
Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles, and the risk and severity of this disease increases markedly from 50 years of age. Chronic pain is the most common complication of shingles and this can last for months, even years. Consequently, the impact on shingles sufferers can be severe, affecting all aspects of their home and work lives.
“This vaccine provides the only option to help prevent this debilitating disease.”
In New Zealand, ZOSTAVAX can be administered to individuals who are 50 years or older to reduce the risk of developing shingles and its associated acute and chronic pain. ZOSTAVAX® is a non-funded prescription medicine therefore patient charges will apply for the single dose needed. More information can be found at www.shingles.co.nz
About
MSD
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well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies,
and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and
operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative
health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching
programs that donate and deliver our products to the people
who need them. MSD. Be Well. For more information, visit: www.msd.com
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REFERENCES
1. ZOSTAVAX Data
Sheet
2. Immunisation Handbook, 2011
MINIMUM
PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE
USING ZOSTAVAX (zoster vaccine, live) 0.65 mL vial for
injection: ZOSTAVAX is indicated for immunisation of
individuals 50 years of age or older for the prevention of
herpes zoster (shingles), the prevention of postherpetic
neuralgia (PHN) and the reduction of acute and chronic
zoster-associated pain. ZOSTAVAX should not be given to
patients who: have a hypersensitivity reaction or are
allergic to gelatin or neomycin; have a blood disorder or
low immunity, have untreated tuberculosis; are receiving
immunosuppressive therapy; have a fever; are or may
potentially be pregnant. Pregnancy should be avoided for 3
months following vaccination. ZOSTAVAX is not recommended
for children or for nursing mothers. Common side effects
are: headache and localised injection site reactions.
ZOSTAVAX is a private purchase prescription only
medicine that the patient will need to pay for.
Price may vary across different surgeries. Marketed by:
Merck Sharp & Dohme (NZ) Limited, Newmarket, Auckland. For
detailed prescribing information, consult the consumer
medicine information, phone 0800 500 673 or refer to the
Medsafe website www.medsafe.govt.nz. [MPI-ZST-1]
VACC-1101661-0029
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What is shingles &
PHN?
Shingles is caused by the same virus that
causes chickenpox. After your chickenpox blisters heal, the
virus that caused them stays in your body in nerve cells.
The virus may be there for many years and not cause a
problem. Sometimes, though, it becomes active again. If this
happens it can cause a blistering and painful rash, usually
appearing on one side of your body. This is a sign that the
virus that has been dormant in the nerve cells has
reactivated, travelled down the nerves and followed a path
out to the skin. Because the nerves along the path become
inflamed, shingles can be very painful. The most common
complication of shingles is post herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
This is chronic pain that can last for months, even years,
after the rash has disappeared.
Patients have described the pain of PHN as burning, throbbing, stabbing, shooting and/or sharp pain.
Who is at risk of shingles &
PHN?
It is estimated that 1 in 3 people will
experience shingles in their lifetime and that by 80 years
of age, 50% of individuals will have experienced an episode
of shingles. Anyone who has ever contracted chickenpox
(varicella) can experience shingles, however over two-thirds
of cases occur over the age of 50, and the frequency and
severity of complications increase markedly with age.
As with shingles, the risk of PHN also increases with age.
Who is ZOSTAVAX indicated for?
In
adults 50 years of age or older, ZOSTAVAX is indicated
for:
• Prevention of herpes zoster
(shingles).
• Prevention of Post Herpetic Neuralgia
(PHN).
• Reduction of acute and chronic
shingles-associated
pain.
ENDS