Shingles vaccine study

Are you 50 years of age or older? Do you live in or near Sydney? You may qualify for an investigational study for a shingles vaccine.

Herpes zoster or shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (Varicella Zoster virus). If you ever had chickenpox, you are at risk of developing shingles. The chickenpox virus can remain dormant in your body and may reappear as shingles several years later. Shingles usually starts with pain, itching or tingling of the skin that later develops into an irritating and painful skin rash often with blisters.

it is estimated that each year more than 220,000 Australians over the age of 50 years are diagnosed with shingles. Shingles occurs most commonly in persons more than 50 years old, and the chance of developing shingles increases with age. The most common complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is pain that persists in the area of the shingles outbreak after the rash has healed.

This research study will investigate a vaccine that may help protect you against shingles.

You may be aligible to participate in one of two studies if you:

• are a healthy adult, age 50 years or older, and
• have never been vaccinated against chickenpox or shingles, and
• have never had shingles.

Qualified participants will receive:

• monitoring by a qualified health care professional, and
• reimbursement for travel related expenses.

Please contact Delene Assam on 02 9845 6251.

This study has been approved by SWAHS Human Research and Eithics Committee - Westmead Campus.