Program Description
Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a painful rash that occurs by the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus. As the immune system undergoes age-related decline, the risk of reactivation increases in older adults and those with chronic comorbid conditions or receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Shingles has been found to affect 1 in 3 adults in their lifetime, but despite its common occurrence, surveys have found a lack of public awareness and low perception of risk among older adults. Current updates that will be highlighted in this webinar include recommendations for shingles vaccination and novel handling requirements for the recombinant zoster vaccine. This webinar will support pharmacists as shingles vaccine administrators with proactive strategies to identify patients at high risk of shingles and leverage interventions to dispel myths and misconceptions contributing to shingles vaccine hesitancy. Patient counseling techniques and evidence-based efficacy data will be presented. Participants will gain practical tips to advocate for the two-dose recombinant zoster vaccine series, successfully manage adverse effect expectations, guide immunocompromised populations in vaccine decision-making, and employ pharmacy tracking systems to support full series completion.
Target audience: Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist
Type of activity: Application
Release date: August
25, 2026
Expiration date: October 25, 2026
Time
to complete activity: 1 hour
Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe the burden of shingles and the public health significance of shingles vaccination, particularly among older adults and immunocompromised populations
- Explain the clinical efficacy, safety, and updated administration methods of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV)
- Apply effective communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and educate patients on the importance of completing the shingles vaccine series
- Use best practices to increase adherence and completion rates of the RZV series in diverse patient populations
