Crucial Conversations in Pharmacy Practice: Improving Patient Outcomes in Shingles Management

Shingles management"or more specifically, the prevention of shingles (caused by varicella zoster virus; VZV)"is crucial to help preserve quality of life, particularly for older adults. Updated immunization recommendations for recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) now include updated guidance for adults with compromised immune systems in addition to older adults. Pharmacists play a key role in the interprofessional team with appropriate identification, recommendation, and administration of age-appropriate vaccines to help prevent shingles and complications.

The web-based monograph will include text, faculty audio clips and cases representing the burden of shingles on older adults and the role of the pharmacist in making a clinical impact. This impact, ranging from clinical management to addressing racial and ethnic inequities will be addressed.