The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday endorsed Shingrix over Merck’s shingles vaccine Zostavax, currently the only available shingles vaccine in the U.S.
Committee members favored Shingrix in an 8 to 7 vote after reviewing clinical trial data showing the new vaccine “was significantly more effective than Zostavax,” according to Reuters.
The committee also said all Americans age 50 and older should receive Shingrix, even if they’ve already been vaccinated with Zostavaxx, which is intended for adults 60 and older.
Based on the updated recommendations, about 62 million more adults in the U.S. should be vaccinated against shingles, according to the report.
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