October 27, 2017 — Immunization experts have voted in favor of updating guidelines to recommend Shingrix® over an older shingles vaccine called Zostavax®.
The experts also advised getting re-vaccinated with Shingrix for people who were vaccinated with Zostavax.
Merck & Co. is facing a growing number of lawsuits from people who were vaccinated with Zostavax and developed shingles, chickenpox, or severe infections with the live Varicella virus in the vaccine.
In comparison, Shigrix contains only parts of the Varicella virus that are necessary to trigger immunity. Shingrix is not capable of causing infections with the Varicella virus, unlike Zostavax.
There have been reports of patients who died after they were given Zostavax because they were too sick to fight off the virus. This is why Zostavax is not recommended for immunocompromised adults.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of immunization experts, had other reasons for recommending Shingrix to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While Zostavax is only 51% effective at preventing shingles and immunity waned within a few years, Shingrix is 97% effective for people between 50 and 69, and 91% effective for people 70 or older. Shingrix also does not need refrigeration, which means it can be sold worldwide, including places where access to refrigeration is unreliable.
Do I have a Zostavax Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Zostavax induced injury cases in all 50 states, including:
- Serious neurological diseases or disorders, including brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- Herpetic Neuralgia (disorder in the nerves)
- Postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN (pain continuing after shingles blister subside)
- Myelitis (spinal cord inflammation)
- Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis)
- Vision problems, including: blindness, eye infections, and retinal damage (necrotizing retinitis)
- Hearing loss
If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with any of these side effects within 6 months of vaccination, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Vaccine Injury Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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