SHINGLES AWARENESS WEEK

SHINGLES AWARENESS WEEK
Over 90% of individuals aged 50 and above carry the shingles-causing virus, a result of the reactivation of the Varicella-zoster virus¹, yet 86% of these adults underestimate their shingles risk and how this painful disease can impact their quality of life.² This implies a lack of awareness among many adults, particularly those over 50, regarding the ill effects of contracting shingles. To increase awareness and address common misconceptions, GlaxoSmithKline plc is teaming up with the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) to kick off the 3rd Global Shingles Awareness Week from February 26 to March 3, 2024.

What is Shingles Awareness Week?
Shingles Awareness Week is a campaign that seeks to initiate candid conversations with patients aged 50 years old and up about the risk of shingles and how the debilitating experience can disrupt life’s precious moments. The theme this year, "Shingles Denial," highlights the misconception among adults over 50 who believe they're too young or healthy to get shingles, overlooking their increased risk.



How can you support Shingles Awareness Week?
Get involved and celebrate Shingles Awareness Week by educating your patients aged 50 and above about the burden of shingles and its prevention.

Shingles Awareness Week aims to enhance awareness of the disease's impact, dispel common misconceptions, and encourage individuals concerned about risks and complications of shingles to consult their healthcare providers to better understand the condition.

Shingles is an extremely painful, usually itchy, rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clear up within 2 to 4 weeks³. However, more serious and long-lasting complications may arise such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN, i.e. long-lasting nerve pain) and even herpes zoster opthalmicus if the infection occurs near the eye which may result to blindness.⁴

Shingles Awareness Week is a key opportunity to bridge the gap between what people think about shingles and the reality. Empower individuals, especially those over 50, by engaging in open conversations, dispelling myths, emphasizing the potential complications of the disease and how it can affect their daily lives, and encouraging them to take proactive steps in preventing the condition.