Side Effects for Shingrix
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. There is the possibility that broad use of SHINGRIX could reveal adverse reactions not observed in clinical trials.
Adults Aged 50 Years And Older
Overall, 17,041 adults aged 50 years and older received at least 1 dose of SHINGRIX in 17 clinical studies.
The safety of SHINGRIX was evaluated by pooling data from 2 placebo-controlled clinical studies (Studies 1 and 2) involving 29,305 subjects aged 50 years and older who received at least 1 dose of SHINGRIX (n = 14,645) or saline placebo (n = 14,660) administered according to a 0- and 2-month schedule. At the time of vaccination, the mean age of the population was 69 years; 7,286 (25%) subjects were aged 50 to 59 years, 4,488 (15%) subjects were aged 60 to 69 years, and 17,531 (60%) subjects were aged 70 years and older. Both studies were conducted in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In the overall population, the majority of subjects were White (74%), followed by Asian (18%), Black (1.4%), and other racial/ethnic groups (6%); 58% were female.
Solicited Adverse Reactions
In Studies 1 and 2, data on solicited local and general adverse reactions were collected using standardized diary cards for 7 days following each vaccine dose or placebo (i.e., day of vaccination and the next 6 days) in a subset of subjects (n = 4,886 receiving SHINGRIX, n = 4,881 receiving placebo with at least 1 documented dose). Across both studies, the percentages of subjects aged 50 years and older reporting each solicited local and general adverse reaction following administration of SHINGRIX (both doses combined) were pain (78%), redness (38%), and swelling (26%); and myalgia (45%), fatigue (45%), headache (38%), shivering (27%), fever (21%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (17%).
The reported frequencies of specific solicited local adverse reactions and general adverse reactions (overall per subject), by age group, from the 2 studies are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Percentage of Subjects with Solicited Local and General Adverse Reactions within 7 Daysa of Vaccination in Adults Aged 50 to 59 Years, 60 to 69 Years, and 70 Years and Olderb (Total Vaccinated Cohort with 7-Day Diary Card)
| Adverse Reactions |
Aged 50-59 Years |
Aged 60-69 Years |
Aged ≥70 Years |
| SHINGRIX |
Placeboc |
SHINGRIX |
Placeboc |
SHINGRIX |
Placeboc |
| Local Adverse Reactions |
n =1,315
% |
n =1,312
% |
n =1,311
% |
n=1,305
% |
n =2,258
% |
n=2,263
% |
| Pain |
88 |
14 |
83 |
11 |
69 |
9 |
| Pain, Grade 3d |
10 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
0.2 |
| Redness |
39 |
1 |
38 |
2 |
38 |
1 |
| Redness, >100 mm |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
| Swelling |
31 |
1 |
27 |
1 |
23 |
1 |
| Swelling, >100 mm |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| General Adverse Reactions |
n = 1,315
% |
n =1,312
% |
n = 1,309
% |
n=1,305
% |
n = 2,252
% |
n=2,264
% |
| Myalgia |
57 |
15 |
49 |
11 |
35 |
10 |
| Myalgia, Grade 3e |
9 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0.4 |
| Fatigue |
57 |
20 |
46 |
17 |
37 |
14 |
| Fatigue, Grade 3e |
9 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
| Headache |
51 |
22 |
40 |
16 |
29 |
12 |
| Headache, Grade 3e |
6 |
2 |
4 |
0.2 |
2 |
0.4 |
| Shivering |
36 |
7 |
30 |
6 |
20 |
5 |
| Shivering, Grade 3e |
7 |
0.2 |
5 |
0.3 |
2 |
0.3 |
| Fever |
28 |
3 |
24 |
3 |
14 |
3 |
| Fever, Grade 3f |
0.4 |
0.2 |
1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| GIg |
24 |
11 |
17 |
9 |
14 |
8 |
| GI, Grade 3e |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.4 |
Total vaccinated cohort for safety included all subjects with at least 1 documented dose (n).
a 7 days included day of vaccination and the subsequent 6 days.
b Data for subjects aged 50 to 59 years and 60 to 69 years are based on Study 1. Data for subjects aged 70 years and older are based on pooled data from Study 1: NCT01165177 and Study 2: NCT01165229.
c Placebo was a saline solution.
d Grade 3 pain: Defined as significant pain at rest; prevents normal everyday activities.
e Grade 3 myalgia, fatigue, headache, shivering, and GI: Defined as preventing normal activity.
f Fever defined as ≥37.5°C/99.5°F for oral, axillary, or tympanic route, or ≥38°C/100.4°F for rectal route; Grade 3 fever defined as >39.0°C/102.2°F.
g GI = Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain. |
The incidence of solicited local and general reactionswas lower in subjects aged 70 years and older compared with those aged 50 to 69 years.
The local and general adverse reactions seen with SHINGRIX had a median duration of 2 to 3 days.
There were no differences in the proportions of subjects reporting any or Grade 3 solicited local reactions between Dose 1 and Dose 2. Headache and shivering were reported more frequently by subjects after Dose 2 (28% and 21%, respectively) compared with Dose 1 (24% and 14%, respectively). Grade 3 solicited general adverse reactions (headache, shivering, myalgia, and fatigue) were reported more frequently by subjects after Dose 2 (2.3%, 3%, 4%, and 4%, respectively) compared with Dose 1 (1.4%, 1.4%, 2.3%, and 2.4%, respectively).
Unsolicited Adverse Events
Unsolicited adverse events that occurred within 30 days following each vaccination (Day 0 to 29) were recorded on a diary card by all subjects. In the 2 studies, unsolicited adverse events occurring within 30 days of vaccination were reported in 51% and 32% of subjects who received SHINGRIX (n = 14,645) or placebo (n = 14,660), respectively (Total Vaccinated Cohort). Unsolicited adverse events that occurred in ≥1% of recipients of SHINGRIX and at a rate at least 1.5-fold higher than placebo included chills (4% versus 0.2%), injection site pruritus (2.2% versus 0.2%), malaise (1.7% versus 0.3%), arthralgia (1.7% versus 1.2%), nausea (1.4% versus 0.5%), and dizziness (1.2% versus 0.8%).
Gout (including gouty arthritis) was reported by 0.18% (n = 27) versus 0.05% (n = 8) of subjects who received SHINGRIX or placebo, respectively, within 30 days of vaccination; available information is insufficient to determine a causal relationship with SHINGRIX.
Serious Adverse Events (SAEs)
In the 2 studies, SAEs were reported at similar rates in subjects who received SHINGRIX (2.3%) or placebo (2.2%) from the first administered dose up to 30 days post-last vaccination. SAEs were reported for 10.1% of subjects who received SHINGRIX and for 10.4% of subjects who received placebo from the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination. One subject (<0.01%) reported lymphadenitis and 1 subject (<0.01%) reported fever greater than 39°C; there was a basis for a causal relationship with SHINGRIX.
Optic ischemic neuropathy was reported in 3 subjects (0.02%) who received SHINGRIX (all within 50 days after vaccination) and 0 subjects who received placebo; available information is insufficient to determine a causal relationship with SHINGRIX.
Deaths
From the first administered dose up to 30 days post-last vaccination, deaths were reported for 0.04% of subjects who received SHINGRIX and 0.05% of subjects who received placebo in the 2 studies. From the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination, deaths were reported for 0.8% of subjects who received SHINGRIX and for 0.9% of subjects who received placebo. Causes of death among subjects were consistent with those generally reported in adult and elderly populations.
Potential Immune-Mediated Diseases
In the 2 studies, new onset potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) or exacerbation of existing pIMDs were reported for 0.6% of subjects who received SHINGRIX and 0.7% of subjects who received placebo from the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination.The most frequently reported pIMDs occurred with comparable frequencies in the group receiving SHINGRIX and the placebo group.
Dosing Schedule
In an open-label clinical study, 238 subjects aged 50 years and older received SHINGRIX as a 0- and 2-month or 0- and 6-month schedule. The safety profile of SHINGRIX was similar when administered according to a 0- and 2-month or 0- and 6-month schedule and was consistent with that observed in Studies 1 and 2.
Immunocompromised Adults Aged 18 Years And Older
The safety of SHINGRIX was evaluated in 6 placebo-controlled clinical studies that enrolled 3,116 subjects aged 18 years and older from 5 different immunodeficient or immunosuppressed (referred to as immunocompromised) populations, in which a total of 1,587 received SHINGRIX. In all studies, subjects received Doses 1 and 2 of SHINGRIX 1 to 2 months apart. Safety monitoring for these studies was similar to Studies 1 and 2. In addition, subjects were monitored for events relevant to their specific disease or condition.
At the time of receipt of SHINGRIX or placebo, the mean age of the population was 55 years; 28% subjects were aged 18 to 49 years and 72% subjects were aged 50 years and older.Each of the studies was conducted in one or more of the following regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia/New Zealand.The majority of subjects were White (77%), followed by Asian (17%), Black (2%), and other racial groups (3%); 4% were of American Hispanic or Latino ethnicity; 37% were female.
Table 2. Clinical Studies with SHINGRIX in Immunocompromised Adults Aged ≥18 Years
| Clinical Studies |
Number of Subjects Vaccinated |
Study Population |
Safety Follow-up Period |
| SHINGRIX |
Placebo |
auHSCT
(NCT01610414) |
922 |
924 |
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipientsa |
29 months median safety follow-upb |
Hematologic Malignancies
(NCT01767467) |
283 |
279 |
Hematologic malignanciesc,d |
12 months post last vaccination |
Renal Transplant
(NCT02058589) |
132 |
132 |
Renal transplant recipientse |
12 months post last vaccination |
Solid Malignant Tumors
(NCT01798056) |
117 |
115 |
Solid tumors receiving chemotherapyf,g |
12 months post last vaccination |
HIV
(NCT01165203) |
74 |
49 |
HIV-infected subjects |
12 months post last vaccination |
auHSCT
(NCT00920218) |
59 |
30 |
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipientsa |
12 months post last vaccination |
a The first dose was administered within 50 to 70 days after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
b Safety follow-up was driven by HZ case accrual and ranged from a minimum of 12 months post last vaccination to 4 years at subject level.
c For subjects who were vaccinated during a cancer therapy course, each dose was administered with at least 10 days between vaccination and cancer therapy cycles.
d For subjects who received the vaccination after a full cancer therapy course, the first dose was administered from 10 days to 6 months after cancer therapy had ended.
e The first dose was administered between 4 to 18 months after renal transplantation.
f In the PreChemo group (TVC: SHINGRIX [n = 90], placebo [n = 91]), the first dose was administered a maximum of 1 month to a minimum of 10 days before the start of a chemotherapy cycle, and the second dose was administered on the first day of a chemotherapy cycle.
g In the OnChemo group (TVC: SHINGRIX [n = 27], placebo [n = 24]), each dose was administered on the first day of a chemotherapy cycle. |
In the auHSCT study (NCT01610414), at the time of receipt of SHINGRIX or placebo, the mean age of the population was 55 years; 25% of subjects were aged 18 to 49 years and 75% subjects were aged 50 years and older. The majority of subjects were White (78%), followed by Asian (16%), Black (2%), and other racial groups (3%); 3% were of American Hispanic or Latino ethnicity; 37% were female.
Solicited Adverse Reactions
Solicited local adverse reactions reported within 7 days following administration of SHINGRIX (both doses combined) in auHSCT recipients (aged 18 to 49 and ≥50 years of age) were pain (88% and 83%), redness (30% and 35%), and swelling (21% and 18%). Solicited general adverse reactions reported within 7 days following administration of SHINGRIX (both doses combined) in auHSCT recipients (aged 18 to 49 and ≥50 years of age) were fatigue (64% and 54%), myalgia (58% and 52%), headache (44% and 30%), gastrointestinal symptoms (21% and 28%), shivering (31% and 25%), and fever (28% and 18%). The percentages of subjects aged 18 years and older reporting each solicited local and general adverse reaction following administration of each dose of SHINGRIX or placebo in the auHSCT study (NCT01610414) are presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Adult auHSCT Recipients (NCT01610414): Percentage of Subjects with Solicited Local and General Adverse Reactions within 7 Daysa of Vaccination in Adults Aged 18 to 49 Years and 50 Years and Older by Dose (Total Vaccinated Cohort)
| Adverse Reactions |
Aged 18-49 Years |
Aged ≥50 Years |
| SHINGRIX |
Placebob |
SHINGRIX |
Placebob |
| Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
Dose 1 |
Dose 2 |
| Local Adverse Reactions |
n = 223
% |
n = 205
% |
n = 217
% |
n = 207
% |
n = 673
% |
n = 635
% |
n = 673
% |
n = 627
% |
| Pain |
81 |
82 |
8 |
6 |
75 |
74 |
6 |
5 |
| Pain, Grade 3c |
11 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
0.3 |
0 |
| Redness |
20 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
28 |
1 |
1 |
| Redness, >100 mm |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Swelling |
14 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
15 |
1 |
1 |
| Swelling, >100 mm |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0.1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| General Adverse Reactions |
n = 222
% |
n = 203
% |
n = 218
% |
n = 207
% |
n = 674
% |
n = 633
% |
n = 674
% |
n = 628
% |
| Myalgia |
41 |
51 |
22 |
21 |
37 |
43 |
18 |
17 |
| Myalgia, Grade 3d |
4 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
| Fatigue |
49 |
51 |
34 |
25 |
37 |
46 |
31 |
26 |
| Fatigue, Grade 3d |
6 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
| Headache |
23 |
38 |
17 |
17 |
15 |
25 |
13 |
8 |
| Headache, Grade 3d |
1 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0.1 |
2 |
0.4 |
1 |
| Shivering |
20 |
26 |
12 |
6 |
11 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
| Shivering, Grade 3d |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0.4 |
3 |
1 |
0.2 |
| Fever, ≥37.5°C/99. 5°F |
9 |
28 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
15 |
3 |
4 |
Fever, Grade3
>39.5°C/103. 1°F |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0 |
0.2 |
| GIe |
14 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
12 |
| GI, Grade 3d |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Total vaccinated cohort (TVC) for safety included all subjects with at least 1 documented dose (n).
% = Percentage of subjects reporting the symptom at least once.
a 7 days included day of vaccination and the subsequent 6 days.
b Placebo was sucrose reconstituted with saline solution.
c Grade 3 pain: defined as significant pain at rest preventing normal everyday activities.
d Grade 3 myalgia, fatigue, headache, shivering, and GI: defined as preventing normal activity.
e GI = Gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain. |
In general, the reported frequencies of solicited local and general adverse reactions in the other studies in immunocompromised populations were similar to that in the auHSCT study (NCT01610414). The local and general adverse reactions seen with SHINGRIX had a median duration of 1 to 3 days across all studies enrolling immunocompromised subjects.
Unsolicited Adverse Events
Across all 6 studies enrolling immunocompromised subjects, unsolicited adverse events, including both serious and non-serious events, occurring within 30 days following each vaccination were reported in 46% and 44% of subjects who received SHINGRIX or placebo. Adverse events of arthralgia, infective pneumonia, and influenza-like illness occurred in ≥1% of recipients of SHINGRIX and at a rate at least 1.5-fold higher than placebo (1.5% versus 1.0%, 1.5% versus 0.9%, and 1.3% versus 0.6%, respectively).
Serious Adverse Events
Across all 6 studies enrolling immunocompromised subjects, SAEs were reported at similar rates in subjects who received SHINGRIX (7%) or placebo (8%) from the first administered dose up to 30 days post-last vaccination. SAEs were reported for 26%of subjects who received SHINGRIX and for 27% of subjects who received placebo from the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination. SAEs of infective pneumonia were reported for 21 subjects (1.3%) who received SHINGRIX and for 11 subjects (0.7%) who received placebo up to 30 days post-last vaccination. Available information is insufficient to determine a causal relationship to vaccination.
Deaths
Across all 6 studies enrolling immunocompromised subjects, from the first administered dose up to 30 days post-last vaccination, deaths were reported for 2 subjects (0.1%) who received SHINGRIX and 7 subjects (0.5%) who received placebo. From the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination, deaths were reported for 6%of subjects who received SHINGRIX and for 6% of subjects who received placebo. Causes of death among subjects were consistent with those expected in the populations evaluated.
Potential Immune-Mediated Diseases
Across all 6 studies enrolling immunocompromised subjects, new onset pIMDs or exacerbation of existing pIMDs were reported for 1.3% of subjects who received SHINGRIX and 1.0%of subjects who received placebo from the first administered dose up to 1 year post-last vaccination. There were no notable imbalances in specific pIMDs between treatment groups.
Other Medically Relevant Events
In the auHSCT study (NCT01610414), relapse or progression was reported by 315 of 922 subjects (34%) who received at least one dose of SHINGRIX and 331 of 924 subjects (36%) who received placebo from the first vaccination to study end.
In the auHSCT study (NCT00920218), relapse or progression was reported by 17 of 59 subjects (29%) who received at least one dose of SHINGRIX and 8 of 30 subjects (27%) who received placebo from the first vaccination to study end.
In the hematologic malignancy study, relapse or progression was reported by 45 of 283 subjects (16%) who received at least one dose of SHINGRIX and 58 of 279 subjects (21%) who received placebo from the first vaccination to study end.
In the renal transplant study, biopsy-confirmed allograft rejection was reported by 4 of 132 (3%) of subjects who received SHINGRIX and by 7 of 132 (5%) of subjects who received placebo from the first vaccination to study end (approximately 13 months later). Creatinine as a measure of graft function and changes in alloimmunity post-vaccination were not systematically evaluated.
In the HIV study, at least 1 event of worsening HIV condition was reported by 9 of 74 (12%) of subjects who received SHINGRIX and by 5 of 49 (10%) of subjects who received placebo from the first vaccination to study end.
Concomitant Administration With 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
In an open-label clinical study (NCT02045836) in subjects aged 50 years and older, information about solicited local and systemic adverse reactions was collected using diary cards for 7 days (i.e., day of vaccination and the next 6 days). When PNEUMOVAX 23 was co-administered with the first dose of SHINGRIX compared to when the first dose of SHINGRIX was given alone, a greater percentage of subjects reported fever, defined as ≥37.5°C/99.5°F (16% vs. 7%, respectively) and shivering (21% vs. 7%, respectively) [see Clinical Studies].
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of SHINGRIX. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to the vaccine.
General Disorders And Administration Site Conditions
Decreased mobility of the injected arm which may persist for 1 or more weeks.
Immune System Disorders
Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, rash, and urticaria.
Nervous System Disorders
Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Postmarketing Observational Study Of The Risk Of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Vaccination With SHINGRIX
The association between vaccination with SHINGRIX and GBS was evaluated among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older. Using Medicare claims data, from October 2017 through February 2020, vaccinations with SHINGRIX among beneficiaries were identified through National Drug Codes, and potential cases of hospitalized GBS among recipients of SHINGRIX were identified through International Classification of Diseases codes.
The risk of GBS following vaccination with SHINGRIX was assessed in self-controlled case series analyses using a risk window of 1 to 42 days post-vaccination and a control window of 43 to 183 days post-vaccination. The primary analysis (claims-based, all doses) found an increased risk of GBS during the 42 days following vaccination with SHINGRIX, with an estimated 3 excess cases of GBS per million doses administered to adults aged 65 years or older. In secondary analyses, an increased risk of GBS was observed during the 42 days following the first dose of SHINGRIX, with an estimated 6 excess cases of GBS per million doses administered to adults aged 65 years or older, and no increased risk of GBS was observed following the second dose of SHINGRIX. These analyses of GBS diagnoses in claims data were supported by analyses of GBS cases confirmed by medical record review. While the results of this observational study suggest a causal association of GBS with SHINGRIX, available evidence is insufficient to establish a causal relationship.
Drug Interactions for Shingrix
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