Safety of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Rheumatology Patients

The goal of this study was to identify the safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in the authors’ university-affiliated rheumatology practice.

Target Audience

Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is an interdisciplinary, multi-specialty Journal, and articles span the spectrum of medical topics, providing timely, up-to-date information for primary care physicians and specialists alike. The SMJ enables physicians to provide the best possible care to patients in this age of rapidly changing modern medicine.  Therefore, the readers of the SMJ are an appropriate target for this article.

Learning Objectives

Herpes zoster (HZ) affects 1 in every 3 human beings during his or her lifetime; the incidence seems to be higher in the older adult population. Patients with rheumatic diseases are found to be at higher risk of HZ. The authors of this study found only two peer-reviewed publications that outline the safety of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in adult subjects with underlying rheumatic diseases. The goal of this study was to identify the safety of this vaccine in the authors’ university-affiliated rheumatology practice. At the conclusion of the activity, learners should be better prepared to:

  1. Recognize that administration of recombinant varicella zoster vaccine to persons with rheumatic arthritis and other immune-medicate rheumatological disorders in this study was not associated with increased flares of their disease of increased significant side effects of the vaccine when compared to individuals without rheumatological conditions in the phase III study that was performed to study the safety of recombinant varicella zoster vaccine for FDA approval;
  2. Recognize that varicella zoster virus infects a very large number of persons and is causes shingles in a large number of people;
  3. Recognize that varicella zoster vaccine substantially reduces the number of persons, particularly older persons, who develop complications due to varicella zoster virus;
  4. Recognize that this study indicates recombinant varicella zoster vaccine can be safely used for patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 

Additional Information

Partner: 
Southern Medical Association
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Course opens: 
02/03/2022
Course expires: 
02/02/2023
Rating: 
0

Southern Medical Association (SMA) requires instructors, planners, managers, and all other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose conflicts of interest (COI) with ineligible entities within the last 24 months of the development of this activity. All identified COIs are thoroughly vetted and mitigated prior to the release of the activity. SMA is committed to providing its learners with high quality activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The following individuals, unless otherwise noted, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Manuscript Author(s):
Syed Raza, MD
Saurav Acharya, MD
Gabrielle Howard, M
Debendra Pattanaik, MD 

Southern Medical Association/Southern Medical Journal Editorial Staff:
Steven T. Baldwin, MD, SMJ Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer S. Price, MA, Managing Editor
Anita McCabe, Copyeditor

Southern Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Southern Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA: AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. 

AANPCP: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Healthcare Professionals
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.  All healthcare professionals who are not MDs or DOs will receive a certificate of participation.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
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This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated; learners should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent in the activity. To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period noted, following these steps:

  • Read the goals and objectives, accreditation information, and author disclosures.
  • Login in below to access the article in order to study the educational content and references.
  • Online, choose the best answer to each test question. To receive a certificate, you must receive a passing score.
  • Complete the activity evaluation and attestation.