As of Monday, Quebec will offer the shingles vaccine free of charge to people aged 71 to 74. The vaccine is already free for those 75 and older, as well as immunocompromised people aged 18 and over. According to the government, the vaccine is the best protection against shingles (herpes zoster) and its complications. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a disease that appears in people who have already had chickenpox. It is characterized by painful skin lesions, often in the form of blisters, on one part of the body. “One in three people will have an episode of shingles in their lifetime. Neuralgia is the most common complication. It refers to pain that can be felt for several months or even years along the path of the affected nerve. The risk of neuralgia increases with age and in people with weakened immune systems,” the government says on its website. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing shingles for at least 10 years, and its effectiveness does not decline with age. If the disease does occur in someone who has been vaccinated, the risk of neuralgia is reduced by 90 per cent. Two doses, given two to 12 months apart, are required for long-term protection. The vaccine may cause some reactions such as redness at the injection site, but most reactions are mild and short-lived, according to the government. “In 17 per cent of cases, the reactions caused by the vaccine prevent the person from going about their daily activities for one or two days. These reactions, which are less common in older adults, occur a little more often after the second dose,” the government says. To get the vaccine, people can make an appointment online or call 1-877-644-4545.
