Zostavax

/ MSD

Posology: Individuals should receive a single dose (0.65 ml) administered subcutaneously.
The need for a second dose is currently unknown.
Paediatric population: Zostavax is not indicated for prevention of primary varicella infection (chickenpox) and should not be used in children and adolescents.
Method of administration: The vaccine is to be injected SUBCUTANEOUSLY, preferably in the deltoid region.
Do not inject intravascularly. 

ZOSTAVAX is a live attenuated virus vaccine indicated for prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) in individuals 50 years of age and older

Hypersensitivity: Individuals with a history of anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction to gelatin, neomycin or any other component of the vaccine. Immunosuppression: Immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals, including those with a history of primary or acquired immunodeficiency states, leukemia, lymphoma or other malignant neoplasms affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, AIDS or other clinical manifestations of infection with human immunodeficiency viruses, and those on immunosuppressive therapy. Pregnancy.

Zostavax is not indicated for the treatment of zoster or postherpetic neuralgia or for prevention of primary varicella infection (chickenpox).Serious adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred. Adequate treatment provisions, including epinephrine injection (1:1,000), should be available for immediate use should an anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction occur. Transmission of vaccine virus may occur between vaccinees and susceptible contacts. Deferral should be considered in acute illness (for example, in the presence of fever) or in patients with active untreated tuberculosis. Vaccination does not result in protection of all vaccine recipients. The duration of protection beyond 4 years after vaccination is unknown. The need for revaccination has not been defined. See prescribing information for full details.

The most frequent adverse reactions, reported in >1% of subjects vaccinated, were headache and injection-site reactions.
See prescribing information for full details.

This drug  can be administered concomitantly with inactivated influenza vaccine as separate injections and at different body sites.
This drug and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine should not be given concomitantly because concomitant use in a clinical trial resulted in reduced immunogenicity of it.
No data are currently available regarding concomitant use with other vaccines.
Concurrent administration of it  and anti-viral medications known to be effective against VZV has not been evaluated.

Pregnancy: There are no studies in pregnant women. It is also not known whether this drug can cause foetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. However naturally-occurring varicella-zoster virus infection is known to sometimes cause fetal harm. As it is not indicated in individuals less than 50 years of age, It is not intended to be administered to pregnant women. In any case, pregnancy should be avoided for one month following vaccination.
Breast-feeding: It is not known whether VZV is secreted in human milk. Therefore, because some viruses are secreted in human milk, caution should be exercised if it is administered to a breast-feeding woman

Administration of a higher than recommended dose of this drug was reported rarely and the adverse event profile was comparable to that observed with the recommended dose of it.