The herpes zoster vaccine should be given to all people aged 60 years and older to help prevent shingles, according to new recommendations from the CDC.

All adults aged 60 years and older should receive a single dose of the zoster vaccine (Zostavax, Merck), according to the new recommendations. Even those who have had a prior episode of shingles should receive the vaccine.

The new recommendations were based on data from efficacy studies of the herpes zoster vaccine.

These data indicated the vaccine helped to reduce the occurrence of shingles by 64% in people aged 60 to 69 years and by 18% in people aged 80 years and older.

“Prevention of zoster and its sequelae is particularly important among the oldest people because they might be least able to seek medical attention for these conditions and to request treatment for ongoing pain,” Rafael Harpaz, MD, MPH, captain, Public Health Service Herpes Virus Team at the division of viral diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases/CDC, told Infectious Disease News.

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