"Why You Should Get The New Shingles Vaccine" - Jane E. Brody
Many millions of Americans, especially those older than 40, are susceptible to an eventual attack of shingles, caused by the very same virus that causes chickenpox. Studies have indicated that more than 99 percent of Americans aged 40 and older have had chickenpox even if they don’t remember it, according to Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD, professor of geriatrics, palliative medicine, population health science and policy, medicine and clinical geriatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people 50 and older get the new shingles vaccine whether or not they remember having had chickenpox as a child. If you are uncertain about your disease or vaccine history, you can get a blood test to check for immunity to chickenpox, though the result does not distinguish between protection via the disease or the vaccine. Thus, if the result is positive, Dr. Leipzig says you’d be wise to get the shingles vaccine because you could be harboring the live virus.
- Rosanne M. Leipzig, MD, PhD, Professor, Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, Population Health Science and Policy, Medicine, Clinical Geriatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai