Hong Kong to launch collaborative study on long-term effects of shingles vaccine

A Hong Kong government-owned clinical trial institute will launch a study to examine the long-term health effects of the shingles vaccine in real-world settings, collaborating with a global pharmaceutical giant and a local university.

The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, together with the University of Hong Kong’s medical school and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to mark their collaboration on the project.

Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei, from HKU’s department of pharmacology and pharmacy, said further studies were needed to confirm the long-term effects of the shingles vaccine following some preliminary data.

“There is some biological evidence [of the shingles vaccine], at least in animals, and some preliminary data, to show that it may actually prevent long-term cardiovascular problems, and it may even prevent dementia,” said Wong, who is part of the study.

“If there is really long-term benefit, we need to know how much [the dosage is] and when is the best time to have the vaccination. So those are the questions we haven’t known yet.”

Shingles is an infectious disease that causes a painful, belt-like skin rash with blisters.

While health authorities do not track the incidence of shingles in Hong Kong, a survey conducted by local medical societies found that around one in three adults has experienced the disease at some point in their lives.