Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Shingles
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Old 01-08-2012, 08:47 PM
jnieman jnieman is offline
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Originally Posted by brostholder View Post
I am a pharmacist and perhaps I can help. If someone has ever had chickenpox (varicella), the virus remains in your nerves in a dormant state. If something causes you to have a decrease in what is called your "Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) specific immunity", then the virus reemerges as shingles. The Shingles vaccine Zostavax increases your VZV specific immunity. While it is still possible to get shingles after receiving the vaccine, you are far less likely to get it if you receive the vaccine (I think it was from 2 to 3 times less likely). Hope this helps.
Do you know what could cause you to have a decrease in your Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity? It is my husband with the shingles. Should we worry that there may be an underlying problem that could have brought this on?