VA Stocks Shingles Vaccine

By: fedweek

A vaccine for shingles, which Department of Veterans Affairs researchers helped develop, is available to veterans who are patients at VA medical facilities nationwide. "Shingles can seriously degrade the quality of life for those who suffer from this disease," said VA secretary Jim Nicholson. "Offering this vaccine to our patients is further evidence of VA’s commitment to provide world-class health care to America’s veterans.” VA physicians will offer the vaccine to patients with appropriate medical conditions, usually those who are 60 years of age or older and have healthy immune systems. A single dose of the vaccine offers protection against shingles, which is scientifically named Herpes Zoster. VA researchers and patients from across the country participated in studies which led to the vaccine’s approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine is available immediately to those who are recommended for the treatment.