Gochang-gun Conducts 'Shingles Vaccination' for Residents Aged 50 and Over

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] The Gochang County Health Center in Jeonbuk is conducting shingles vaccinations for residents aged 50 and older.

According to the county on the 10th, shingles is a disease caused when the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in the body after having chickenpox, reactivates as immunity weakens, traveling along nerves and causing a rash on the skin accompanied by severe pain.

It mainly occurs on the torso or buttocks but can appear anywhere there are nerves, such as the face, arms, or legs.

The shingles vaccination is administered only once in a lifetime for those aged 50 and above and is reported to have a 50-70% preventive effect.

Even if shingles develops, the pain tends to be mild, and the likelihood of experiencing postherpetic neuralgia is significantly reduced.

For patients who have already had shingles, vaccination is possible one year after the onset.

Since 2019, the county has been providing vaccinations at the health center at the vaccine purchase price to reduce the incidence of shingles and ease medical expenses through early prevention.

A health center official said, “We hope that the shingles vaccination will help reduce economic burdens, prevent disease, and preempt complications, contributing to a healthy life.”

Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.