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Doctors in Bahrain are being urged to encourage vaccination against shingles, as global cases are projected to rise, driven largely by the world’s ageing population.
Internal medicine and infectious disease consultant Dr Rawan Alagha emphasised the importance of doctor-patient communication and education to encourage vaccination, noting that vaccine hesitancy has grown significantly, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Shingles is often overlooked by physicians, but it is important to discuss,” she said during a session titled ‘Herpes Zoster: Current Perspectives of Risk and Severity’ yesterday.
“Many believe shingles is just a mild rash and don’t see the need for vaccination, but it can lead to serious health complications.”
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles, but it is most common in adults aged over 50 and in those with weakened immune systems.
Serious complications include long-lasting nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia), bacterial skin infections and potential vision loss if the rash is near the eye. In rare cases, shingles can lead to more severe issues like pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), stroke, or hearing problems, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
“The risk of getting shingles increases with age,” said Dr Alagha, emphasising the importance of vaccination given the Gulf region’s ageing population.
“An ageing population is something to celebrate,” she noted. “It shows how far we have come in improving healthcare, preventative measures and overall living standards.
“However, this progress also comes with challenges. As people grow older, their immune systems naturally weaken, making them more vulnerable to diseases and infections such as shingles, and we must be prepared for this.”
Dr Alagha stressed the need for greater medical awareness and better communication around shingles prevention.
“Communication is key,” she said, adding that whether the doctor works in a public or private hospital, they should take a few moments to explain the importance of vaccination.
“Let patients know shingles isn’t just a painful rash, it can lead to serious complications.”
She also pointed to a growing issue of vaccine hesitancy, which has become more pronounced since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With proper communication and awareness, even through social media, we can help convince people to get the shingles vaccine,” she said, noting that it is available at Salmaniya Medical Complex.
A shingles vaccine is recommended for healthy adults aged 50 and older, as well as younger adults with weakened immune systems.
Globally, it is estimated that about one in three people will get shingles in their lifetime. Each year, an estimated three to five out of every 1,000 people get shingles.
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