GSK Shingles Vaccine Now Available in Malaysia

Those who have suffered from shingles will know how painful it was. Now you can protect yourself from the painful shingles, recently I learnt about GSK Shingles Vaccine Now Available in Malaysia. A vaccine for the prevention of shingles in adults aged 50 and over and those aged 18 and over at increased risk. A good awareness about Shingles prevention.

(from left to right) Dr Alap Gandhi, Country Medical Director of GSK Malaysia and Brunei; Ruxandra Nastasa, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei; and Dr Peter Ch’ng, Consultant Dermatologist from Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur & Honorary Secretary of Dermatological Society of Malaysia at the launch of GSK’s Shingles vaccine

Recently, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd (GSK) announced the launch of its Herpes Zoster vaccine, Shingrix (MAL24056002ARZ), also known as Recombinant Zoster Vaccine, Adjuvanted (RZV) in Malaysia for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster, HZ) and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults aged 50 years and over.i RZV is a non-live, recombinant subunit adjuvanted vaccine given intramuscularly in two doses. 

(from left to right) Dr. Alap Gandhi, Country Medical Director of GSK Malaysia & Brunei and Dr. Peter Ch'ng, Consultant Dermatologist at Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur & Honorary Secretary of the Dermatological Society of Malaysia sharing on Shingles and GSK’s Shingles vaccine during the panel discussion at the launch of GSK’s shingles vaccine 

RZV will initially be available in Malaysia to adults aged 50 and over and those aged 18 and over who are at increased risk of HZ. 

Ruxandra Nastasa, Vice President & General Manager of GSK Malaysia & Brunei, delivering her speech at the launch of GSK's Shingles vaccine

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Its a painful condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The pain can be intense, often described as burning, stabbing, or shooting. It can also be accompanied by a rash that appears as a band of blisters on one side of the body.

As people age, the cells in the immune system lose the ability to mount a strong and effective response to infection, increasing the risk of developing shingles. The disease can cause unbearable pain and, in some cases, people can also develop post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) a long-lasting nerve pain following shingles.

This RZV is a vaccine designed to prevent shingles in adults aged 50 years and over and 18 years and over who are at increased risk in countries where the indication for this population has been approved. 

Dr. Peter Ch'ng, Consultant Dermatologist at Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Honorary Secretary of the Dermatological Society of Malaysia, sharing on the burden of shingles

RZV is also approved for adults aged 18 and over who are at increased risk of HZ. Immunocompromised individuals are at greater risk of shingles and associated complications and RZV is a shingles vaccine approved for this at-risk patient population.

In an analysis of the pivotal efficacy studies, ZOE-50, RZV demonstrated vaccine efficacy of up to 97% adults 50 years and above, over a follow-up period of approximately three years. Recent interim data demonstrated overall vaccine efficacy of RZV of greater than 80% over the primary follow-up period approximately six to 10 years after initial vaccination in people 50 years and over.  

Dr. Alap Gandhi, Country Medical Director of GSK Malaysia & Brunei, sharing about the newly launched shingles vaccine

Dr. Alap Gandhi, Country Medical Director of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd (GSK) Malaysia said: “Shingles is a disease that can cause excruciating pain and is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. RZV has been designed to boost the immune response to the virus in people aged 50 and over or in those with immunocompromised conditions.” He concluded, “We are pleased that people in Malaysia will now have access to the RZV vaccine to help reduce the burden of this painful disease.”

RZV is an approved shingles vaccine to combine a non-live antigen with GSK’s adjuvant and may help overcome the natural age-related decline in immunity that contributes to the challenge of protecting adults aged 50 and over from this disease.vi,vii

RZV has resulted in positive vaccination recommendations. In Malaysia, RZV is recommended by Guideline for Adult Immunization by Malaysia Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy for persons who are 50 years and above and for immunosuppressed patients 18 years and above.xi

With the launch of RZV in Malaysia, GSK hopes to continue to play a part in the betterment of public health in Malaysia.