Shingles Vaccine, Zostavax, Causing Severe Reactions

Zostavax, the new vaccine to prevent shingles in adults, was approved for use in May 2006. As of June 1, 2007, 590 reports of adverse reactions have been submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Of those, 44 were classified as serious, defined as “instances of hospitalization, life-threatening conditions, disabling illness, death or other medically important conditions.” Among the 44 severe reactions, there were two deaths.

A reaction at the injection site –the most commonly reported adverse event–was reported in 307 cases. The next most frequent events were a rash (177 cases) and 145 cases shingles were reported, meaning, the vaccine caused the illness it is supposed to prevent. More than half (59%) of the 44 serious events occurred in women, and most (43%) occurred in patients aged 70-79 years. Examples of nonfatal events included three cases of anaphylaxis in patients aged 71, 76, and 79 years.

In addition, there were 34 reports of Zostavax being given to children instead of Varivax, Merck's childhood vaccine for chickenpox. Each dose of Zostavax contains 14 times the amount of varicella zoster virus as Varivax.

Despite the reports of serious reactions and deaths, CDC official, Dr. Sandra Chaves, claimed, “Zostavax seems to have a very good safety profile,” proving once again, that the federal bureaucracy loves every vaccine it approves regardless of the damage it can cause.

COMMENT: Zostavax was licensed for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in adults aged 60 years and older. Shingles and chickenpox are caused by viruses that are closely related. When adults are re-exposed to the chickenpox virus from their children, the immune system is stimulated to keep dormant viruses in check. With the elimination of the chickenpox virus from general circulation, the CDC anticipates that as many as 50 million adults could experience the horrendous, often disabling pain, caused by shingles.

It gets crazier all the time: They are now creating vaccines to treat problems caused by vaccines.