Doha, Qatar: The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced the availability of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine across all its health centers, free of charge for citizens and residents. This initiative comes as part of PHCC’s ongoing commitment to protecting public health and strengthening disease prevention efforts against infectious illnesses and their complications.
The herpes zoster virus typically appears as a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters that develop in a localized area of the skin following the path of a single nerve.
In nearly 80% of cases, symptoms such as tingling, itching, or a burning sensation appears a few days before the rash develops. These symptoms tend to be more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems.
Dr. Rand Aboud, Family Medicine Specialist at PHCC’s Omar Bin Al Khattab Health Center, explained that herpes zoster often causes intense, burning pain that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. “One in three people will develop herpes zoster at some point in their lifetime,” she said, “and the risk increases substantially after the age of 50.”
The link to chickenpox
The condition results from the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in the body after an initial infection during childhood. A person with active herpes zoster can transmit the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or its vaccine — in which case, that person will develop chickenpox, not herpes zoster. The infection is no longer contagious once the blisters have dried and formed scabs.
Who is most at risk?
According to Dr. Rand, the likelihood of developing herpes zoster is higher among:
* Individuals over the age of 50.
* Those with weakened immune systems (such as cancer patients, individuals with HIV, organ transplant recipients, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy).
* People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung disease, or kidney failure.
Potential complications
Herpes zoster can lead to serious complications, especially among older adults. The most common is post-herpetic neuralgia — persistent nerve pain that affects 10–18% of patients, even after the rash has healed.
Other possible complications include vision or hearing problems, facial paralysis, skin infections, or in rare cases, inflammation of the brain.
Importance of vaccination
Given these risks, Dr. Rand emphasized the importance of vaccination as a safe and effective way to prevent herpes zoster and its painful complications.
The vaccine is administered in two doses after consulting a family physician, and provides more than 90% protection against herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in healthy adults, and 70-90% protection for those with weakened immunity.
The vaccine used in Qatar is non-live and safe, with minimal side effects.
Vaccination is recommended for:
* Adults aged 50 years and above, regardless of previous chickenpox or herpes zoster infection.
* Adults aged 18 years and above who are at higher risk due to chronic conditions or weakened immunity.
Even those who have previously had herpes zoster are advised to get vaccinated after full recovery, as it reduces the risk of recurrence and future complications.
Mild and temporary side effects
Side effects are generally mild and short-lived, and may include:
Slight fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, muscle pain, or redness at the injection site. In rare cases, allergic reactions, swollen glands, or more serious symptoms may occur.
PHCC urges all adults, particularly those over 50 or living with chronic illnesses, to visit their family physician at their nearest health center and receive the free Herpes Zoster Vaccine.
It is a simple yet powerful step toward protecting your health and that of your loved ones — and preventing a painful illness that can impact your quality of life.
