FDA approves shingles vaccine

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the first adult shingles vaccine for adults. The agency said the vaccine called Zostavax was used for adults from 60

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age or older; Studies show it can prevent shingles.

Shingles often causes painful sores that last for months. Although the early stages of this condition rarely cause death, aches and pains - called neuropathy after herpes - may still be present after the blisters have been cured. This pain can last for years and is intense in some people to the point of death.

This disease is caused by varicella, the same bacteria that cause chickenpox. Shingles occurs when the chickenpox bacteria are diseased in 'awake' neurons in the elderly or in people with health problems. The Zostavax vaccine is actually a booster dose of the chickenpox vaccine currently used by children.

Q.HONG