With the aging of the population, the health of the elderly is a growing concern.
Among them, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases worldwide, has become a major health risk for the elderly.
Patients with COPD are susceptible to infection with various pathogens, such as influenza virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, etc., due to decreased lung function and reduced resistance, resulting in aggravation of the disease and even life-threatening.
Therefore, it is particularly important for patients with COPD to prevent infectious diseases.
Among the many ways to prevent infectious diseases, vaccination is considered one of the most effective.
Influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine and herpes zoster vaccine are known as the "vaccine trio" for middle-aged and elderly people, and it is recommended that people aged 50 and above get vaccinated as soon as possible.
This is not without reason, as vaccination can effectively improve the body's immunity and reduce the risk of contracting pathogens.
First, let's understand what these three vaccines do.
The flu vaccine can prevent influenza virus infection, thereby reducing the risk of serious complications in patients.
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against serious infectious diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The herpes zoster vaccine can prevent herpes zoster virus infection and reduce the occurrence of herpetic neuralgia.
So why are these vaccines called the "vaccine trio"?
This is because they have a synergistic effect in preventing infectious diseases.
When a person has a respiratory infection, a lung infection, and a neurological infection at the same time, these three vaccines can work together to provide better prevention.
In addition, there are certain interval requirements for the vaccination time of these three vaccines to give full play to their protective effect.
Everyone is familiar with the flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine, and today we will focus on the herpes zoster vaccine.
As we all know, as we age, the body's immunity gradually weakens, and the risk of developing shingles also increases.
In particular, friends with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more susceptible to viruses, including varicella-zoster virus, due to their compromised immune systems.
Once developed with shingles, patients may experience severe pain and rashes, which may further weaken their immune system and can lead to serious complications such as respiratory infections.
Herpes zoster is not just a disease and pain, but its complication, herpes zoster-associated neuralgia (PHN), is even more painful.
Herpes zoster-associated neuralgia is characterized by persistent, unbearable pain that can be burning, shocking, knife-cut, pinprick, or tearing, and the degree of distress cannot be accurately expressed by any description. This pain not only affects the patient's daily life, but also has a serious impact on his mental health, and even leads to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety.
Therefore, it is particularly important for patients with COPD to receive the herpes zoster vaccine.
Shingles is a disease caused by the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in a person's body after they have chickenpox and then reactivates as they age, have low immunity, etc., causing shingles.
The virus has been dormant in the human body for many years and then reactivated, causing patients to unknowingly become infected with the virus and become ill with unpredictable conditions.
Patients with COPD are more susceptible to the herpes zoster virus infection due to long-term illness and a certain degree of damage to their immune system.
So is it necessary for patients with COPD to get the shingles vaccine?
The answer is yes.
According to the GOLD guidelines, patients with COPD can reduce their risk of developing shingles by getting vaccinated against herpes zoster, thereby reducing possible complications.
The recombinant shingles vaccine requires two doses, usually 2-6 months between the first and second doses.
Provides more than 90% protection for people aged 50 years and over;The duration of protection is up to 20 years.
Moreover, the latest domestic data released from the post-marketing phase IV clinical trial (ZOSTER-076) in China, the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine has a 100% protective efficacy against herpes zoster in China aged 50 years and above**. In addition, immunocompromised and immunosuppressed people can be safely vaccinated and prevented.
However, many COPD patients still have doubts and apprehensions when faced with vaccination.
They are concerned about the safety of the vaccine, its effectiveness, and what it may bring
In fact, vaccines are developed and manufactured with rigorous scientific validation and regulation, and their safety and efficacy are widely recognized.
In addition, after vaccination*** it is usually mild, such as muscle aches, fever, etc., and these symptoms will disappear on their own in a short period of time.
Therefore, patients with COPD should actively consider receiving the herpes zoster vaccine after weighing the pros and cons.
In conclusion, for patients with COPD, vaccination against herpes zoster is an effective preventive measure.
By getting vaccinated, you can reduce the risk of developing shingles, reduce the occurrence of complications, and improve the quality of life.
Therefore, patients with COPD should actively consider getting influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine and herpes zoster vaccine under the advice of their doctors to protect the health of themselves and their families.