Merck Says Shingles Vaccine Approved

A new vaccine that could put the pox on shingles for many adult sufferers of the often painful infection caused by the chickenpox virus has received federal approval, its manufacturer said Friday.

Merck & Co. Inc. spokeswoman Christine Fanelle said the vaccine, Zostavax, was approved late Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine is only for adults who previously have had chickenpox.

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, strikes when the chickenpox virus reactivates and resumes reproducing after lying dormant for decades in nerve cells in the body.

There are roughly 1 million new U.S. cases of shingles each year. It typically affects the elderly, though anyone with a weakened immune system is vulnerable.

European and Australian health officials earlier this month approved the shingles vaccine, Merck said.

The company is eyeing the roughly 50 million Americans and 100 million Europeans age 60 and older as its market for the single-dose vaccine.

A dose will cost $152.50.

First, I would like to see the efficacy data. What is the probability that someone receiving the vaccine will get shingles; what is the probability that someone not receiving the vaccine will get shingles?

Second, I must to a crude cost-effectiveness analysis. Shingles is often extremely painful, and the pain can last for months. Shingles can cause permanent damage.

I suspect that the pricing will not be an obstacle for me personally – but it will be for many of our patients. What will Medicare do? What will other insurers do?

On the surface this is likely an important medical advance – but we must consider all the implications.