What if a shingles jab could also protect your brain?
The Shingrix shingles vaccine has launched in South Africa, with experts suggesting it may offer secondary benefits such as a reduced risk of dementia. Despite the potential health advantages, the high cost of the two-dose regimen poses a challenge for widespread adoption.
Why it matters
Vaccination accessibility and the potential for preventative medicine to address long-term cognitive health are critical public health issues.
This time last year, Melanie Verwoerd felt a pain like nothing she’d experienced before. A 20cm wide band of angry blisters, stretching across her back and under her arm all the way to her stomach, kept the former MP and South African ambassador to Ireland out of action for months. “I’ve had many operations and a lot of pain in my life, but never something like that,” she says.
The article presents medical information and economic challenges neutrally, citing both patient experience and manufacturer pricing.
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