Page 24 - Demo

Older Australians are being urged to keep having free shingles vaccinations – along with their annual flu injection – to keep pushing down the incidence of the painful chicken pox-related condition. The warning follows a study of the rapid uptake in shingles vaccinations, and corresponding decline in use of shingles (herpes zoster) antiviral treatments, since the launch of the vaccine Zostavax on the National Immunisation Program for people in their 70s in late 2016. “This free NIP vaccination, with catch- up vaccines offered to those aged 71-79, has resulted in a fall in the incidence of shingles,” Flinders University Associate Professor John Litt said. “Our study indicates that more than 60 per cent of people have received the vaccine, even though there are just under 35 per cent on the official Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), which still leaves further room for improvement in coming years.” Westmead Institute for Medical Research Professor Anthony Cunningham, Associate Professor Litt and collaborators from around Australia have published their findings in a new paper in Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics. “The current study notes that almost 1.4 million doses were distributed in the first 17 months after NIP funding, compared with less than half a million recorded on the AIR, indicating substantive under-reporting of the administration of the vaccine,” Professor Cunningham said. “GPs are used to uploading to the AIR for younger patients, but in this case, especially given the rapid expansion of the vaccine, uploading of Zostavax administration has fallen behind. “The positive findings of this study should help encourage ongoing vaccination efforts to help protect eligible older adults from the risk of shingles.” Dr Litt says an NIP listing of Shingrix, another vaccine, promised to make even more of a difference to older patients. “We’ve seen quite a successful story to curb shingles and the pain of postherpetic neuralgia through vaccination in the community,” he said. “Australia started from almost zero and got up to more than 60 per cent coverage within two years.” Researchers estimate similar coverage of about 60 per cent during the first three years of the corresponding UK vaccination program, while the US coverage was about 35 per cent among all adults aged up to 60 years, 10 years after the vaccine was launched. ETHICAL NEWS 23 STUDY FINDS FREE SHINGLES VACCINE VITAL FOR OVER-70S SUPPORT LIVER HEALTH AND DETOXIFICATION Oriental Botanicals Livaclean contains milk thistle to support the liver’s health and help maintain its natural detoxification processes. Plus goji berry to strengthen the liver and citrus peel to relieve bloating, excessive burping and feelings of fullness, based on their traditional use in Chinese medicine. Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, worsen or change unexpectedly, talk to your health professional. RETAIL PHARMACY • JUL 2020