Herpes zoster in older people: Opportunities for prevention

This national webinar features Dr Anita Sharma speaking about the risk of shingles (herpes zoster) and its complications in individuals aged 50 years and over, with a focus on how that risk is influenced by advancing age and common chronic conditions. Current Australian recommendations for shingles vaccination will be discussed, alongside a review of the shingles vaccines available in Australia. GPs will be invited to consider how they might improve shingles vaccine uptake among over-50s in their practice.

Learning outcomes:

By completing this learning activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in people aged 50 and above and how the risk is influenced by advancing age and common chronic conditions
• Outline the complications of HZ and their incidence
• Describe the guideline-recommended use and contraindications of the HZ vaccines
• Educate eligible patients on available HZ vaccines
• Apply a systems approach to increase HZ vaccination uptake in targeted patients in your practice.

Speaker 

Dr Anita Sharma MBBS FRACGP, Director, Platinum Medical Centre

Dr Sharma is an accredited supervisor for first and second year registrars (GPTQ) and medical students from the University of Queensland and Griffith University. She is a member of the National Faculty of Specific Interests RACGP, co-author of the RACGP Management of type 2 diabetes handbook and member of the RACGP Education Committee.