Current vaccines for the prevention of herpes zoster

Purpose of review To summarize the recent advances in the prevention of herpes zoster. The recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of an adjuvanted subunit vaccine may have a significant impact on the prevention of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Recent findings There are currently two commercially available vaccines for the prevention of herpes zoster: a live-attenuated vaccine and a new recombinant subunit vaccine. The latter has been shown to be more effective, have fewer contraindications, but requires two separate inoculations, has higher reactogenicity, and has only short-term postmarketing surveillance. Summary The adjuvanted zoster subunit vaccine offers several advantages over the previously available vaccine. Following the current treatment recommendations, physicians should recommend vaccination to all patients older than 50 years of age with no contraindications, this should also prevent ophthalmic complications of the disease.