Australia’s active vaccine safety system
A new AusVaxSafety study has shown that delaying the second dose of the shingles vaccine Shingrix does not reduce the likelihood of experiencing adverse events.
Researchers analysed AusVaxSafety surveillance data from more than 41,000 Australians aged 65 years and over who received 2 doses of Shingrix and found similar adverse event rates, regardless of whether the second dose was received within the recommended interval or after it.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends 2 doses of Shingrix, given 2–6 months apart for immunocompetent people and 1–2 months apart for people who are immunocompromised. The study did not specifically compare outcomes by immunocompromised status.
Short-term reactions were reported more often after the second dose than the first. However, most adverse events were mild and short-lived, with pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and muscle aches the most commonly reported.
Reassuringly, very few participants sought medical care following vaccination, with medical attendance rates remaining low at 1.1%.
The findings provide important real-world evidence that delaying the second dose beyond the recommended schedule does not make the Shingrix vaccine less reactogenic.
Although evidence suggests that receiving the second Shingrix dose after the recommended schedule does not affect 2-dose vaccine effectiveness, postponing vaccination can leave people susceptible to shingles and its complications for longer.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, found no benefit in delaying the second Shingrix dose, reinforcing the importance of timely completion of the recommended 2-dose Shingrix schedule to ensure optimal protection against shingles
Access the study
