Zheng Yongjun: Herpes Zoster Poses Serious Threat to Middle-aged and Elderly; Prevention Through Vaccination Is Key

"Pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced by the elderly after falling ill, and the older they are, the more intense the pain becomes." During the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), GSK partnered with Xinhua News Agency to host a roundtable conference themed "Healthy Aging, Prevention First." At the conference, Professor Zheng Yongjun, Director of the Pain Department at Huadong Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, stated that population aging presents a significant challenge for pain management. Particular attention must be given to groups who develop shingles or postherpetic neuralgia following the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. People over 50 are especially susceptible, and this type of pain severely impacts their quality of life. While many can endure physical pain, their mental and nervous systems cannot bear it in the same way. Chronic pain over a long period can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. In our hospital, there are many patients suffering from shingles, some with medical histories extending up to 25 years. Thus, this disease significantly affects the quality of life of patients.

Vaccination against shingles is an important means of protection from the impact of shingles. As a pain specialist, Zheng Yongjun expressed hope that all potential pain patients or individuals with potential immune deficiencies could equip themselves with this "protective shield for health."