Efficacy of Varicella-Zoster Vaccination: An Analysis and Overview of Scientific Data

Introduction. Herpes zoster is a viral disease of the skin and nervous tissue caused by reactivation of the herpes virus type 3, characterized by lesions of the skin and posterior roots of the spinal cord, as well as the intervertebral ganglia. The relevance of this topic is due to the relatively widespread prevalence of the disease, the risk of serious complications in a large percentage of patients, severe clinical course, and frequent relapses in patients at risk. The aim of the study is to analyze the results of clinical trials of the effectiveness of vaccination against Varicella zoster virus using the example of the adjuvant recombinant vaccine Shingrix. Materials and methods. A systematic analysis of the preventive efficacy of the inactivated recombinant Shingrix vaccine was performed based on randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials. Relevant publications indexed in PubMed have been selected for inclusion in the review. Results. Clinical studies on Shingrix (ZOE-50 (ZOSTER-006), ZOE-70 (ZOSTER-022)) have shown high preventive efficacy of the inactivated recombinant vaccine against herpes zoster among people ≥ 50 years – 97.2 %, ≥ 60 years – 97.6, ≥ 70 years – 91.3, ≥ 80 years – 91.4 %. In addition, this vaccine successfully prevented the development of postherpetic neuralgia, and also demonstrated long-term protection. The clinical efficacy of the recombinant vaccine persists for at least 10 years after vaccination. Shingrix also significantly reduces the incidence of shingles in humans after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies. Discussion and conclusion. Due to the increasing incidence of herpes zoster, vaccination is the main and effective measure to combat this disease. The development of an adjuvant recombinant vaccine has significantly improved the quality of life of immunocompromised and elderly patients at risk of developing herpes zoster and its complications. The materials of the article will help to raise awareness of medical professionals and the general population about the modern possibilities of vaccine prevention. The results of the study will be useful for allergologists, immunologists, dermatologists and neurologists in the management of patients with herpes zoster.