Yuanfei Anny Huang, Jean Li-Kim-Moy, Sanjay Jayasinghe, Clayton Chiu, Kristine Macartney, Bette Liu, Penelope Burns, Michelle Giles, Nigel Crawford
In November 2016, herpes zoster (HZ) vaccination for older adults, using the live-attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax; ZVL) was added to the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) with the aim of reducing morbidity from HZ and its complications, particularly for people at increased risk. Prior to the program, there were on average 5.6 cases of HZ per 1,000 persons annually in Australia, with highest risk of disease in older and in immunocompromised people. The burden of complications of HZ, such as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), was also highest in older and immunocompromised groups...
April 27, 2023: Communicable Diseases Intelligence