Shingles

Shingles vaccine is currently recommended for everyone over 65 years of age. It is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for this age group and also for First Nations people aged 50 years and over. The Shingles vaccine is also recommended for individuals over 18 years who have conditions which affect their ability to respond to infectious disease.

Medical conditions:

•  Haematopoietic stem cell transplant
•  Solid organ transplant
•  Haematological malignancy
•  Advanced or untreated HIV

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the chickenpox virus. It usually presents as a skin rash, somewhere on the body. It is mostly found on the torso but can occur around the eye. Pain is often the first symptom, preceding the vesicular rash by a couple of days. It can be intense and long lasting.

The virus is the same one responsible for chickenpox when younger. The virus lies hidden for years and reactivates as shingles. The trigger for a shingles event isn’t well appreciated.

Shingles is a very unpleasant condition. The risk of the disease increases with age. It is estimated that 30% population will have a bout of shingles in a lifetime and 30% of this group will have a severe episode. In other words, 10% of the population will have a severe bout of shingles at some time in their life. This serious episode is more likely to occur in those over 65 years and may result in hospitalisation.

A bout of shingles can be very painful. Treatment involves the early use of medication – usually within a few days of developing symptoms. Even with medication, the rehabilitation period may be many months. Sleep issues due to neuropathic pain are very common.

1. Access to medication may be difficult (you may have just landed on the Galapagos and about to embark on a 7 day cruise)
2. The pain can be intense and it’s not a good way to spend a holiday. It may also disrupt travel plans if there is considerable concern as to what is causing the pain in the first instance (chest pain, abdominal pain, eye pain)
3. The price of the vaccine can be minimal when compared to the cost of the trip and any management of the condition (where you don’t meet the criteria under the National Immunisation Program).
4. You are recommended to have the vaccine because you fit the criteria (age, medical condition)
5. Frequent traveller and over the age of 50 years.