Can you take Shingrix if you have herpes?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can you take Shingrix if you have herpes?
No, it is not suitable to get Shingrix while you have herpes symptoms. Shingrix is a vaccine that protects you from getting herpes and it has nothing to do with the treatment of this viral infection.
Vaccines can never be used in place of medications, which is why it’s not appropriate to get a Shingrix shot while having the symptoms. You need to wait for the virus to run its course.
Once your symptoms have subsided, it’s still not wise to get vaccinated right away as the additional immunity will not benefit your almost-gone infection.
This is because your body has already built up immunity against the virus and it remains in your memory immune cells even after you have completely healed.
During this time period, it’s highly unlikely for you to get infected again. Such a case has never been reported and probably never will because of how our bodies work and how viral strains multiply.
This is why it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider for a proper vaccination date to prevent the virus from coming back your way ever again.
The best time to get vaccinated after your infection subsides could be patient-specific and people with weaker immune systems may need to get it done earlier than healthy individuals (1). This can only be decided by your doctor who has your full medical history.
Safety Considerations for Shingrix Vaccine
When considering the safety of the Shingrix vaccine, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
First, it is generally recommended to inform your healthcare provider if you have any underlying medical conditions or if you are taking any medications. This helps ensure that the vaccine is appropriate for you.
Additionally, if you have a history of allergies or adverse reactions to vaccines- that some people have (2) – it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare provider. They can assess the risks and benefits and provide guidance based on your individual situation.
It is important to note there is a possibility of experiencing side effects after getting a Shingrix vaccine.
The most common side effects of the vaccine include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, as well as mild flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, and muscle pain (3,4). These side effects are generally temporary and subside on their own.
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References
1.-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Herpes Zoster Shingrix Vaccine Recommendations. [updated 2021 Aug 6]. In: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Atlanta (GA). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/recommendations.html
2.-
Bell H, Kamal N, Wong U. Blistering autoimmune skin reaction following SHINGRIX vaccination in an ulcerative colitis patient: Case report and literature review. Vaccine. 2020 Nov 3;38(47):7455-7457. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.09.073. Epub 2020 Oct 13. PMID: 33067034. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33067034/
3.-
Maltz F, Fidler B. Shingrix: A New Herpes Zoster Vaccine. P T. 2019 Jul;44(7):406-433. PMID: 31258310; PMCID: PMC6590925. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6590925/
4.-
Shah RA, Limmer AL, Nwannunu CE, Patel RR, Mui UN, Tyring SK. Shingrix for Herpes Zoster: A Review. Skin Therapy Lett. 2019 Jul;24(4):5-7. PMID: 31339679. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31339679/
