Consider Shingrix for varicella-vaccinated patients: ATAGI proposal
The advisory group also said the requirement for serological testing in immunocompromised patients should be scrapped.
Adults who have received an indicated varicella vaccine should be eligible for the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine Shringrix, according to ATAGI.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook currently recommends against administering both vaccines — except for in patients who have received a varicella vaccine against its indications.
But ATAGI wants this restriction scrapped because of the risk of breakthrough varicella infection or poorly documented histories of prior infection.
“Exposure to wild-type varicella, either through unknown infection before vaccination or by breakthrough infection, means there is a risk of herpes zoster in the future,” it said in a consultation paper.
