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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Shingles Vaccination Contain Neomycin?

I may have nonsyndromic mitochondrial hearing loss associated with a vairant in MT-RNR1 with predisposition to aminoglycoside ototoxicity and if so, should avoid aminoglycosides such as neomycin. I am turning 60 and it is recommended I get the shingles vaccine but I have heard that neomycin is a component. Can you confirm that it is in the shingles vaccine and therefore could be severely ototoxic to me?
Mon, 11 Jul 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I understand your concern.
The zoster vaccine is a live vaccine that has been shown to reduce the incidence of herpes zoster (known as shingles).
The vaccine contains a minimum of 19,400 plaque-forming units (PFU) of the Oka/Merck strain of live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus. It is sterile and does not contain any preservatives.
It is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) in the upper arm. Centres for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of herpes zoster vaccine for people 60 years of age or older, whether or not the person reported a prior episode of zoster.
However, Zoster vaccine should not be administered to a person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine.
It is recommended that you should not go for this vaccine as it is contraindicated in your case.
Hope the information provided would be helpful.
All the best.
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Does Shingles Vaccination Contain Neomycin?

Hi, Thanks for posting in HCM. I understand your concern. The zoster vaccine is a live vaccine that has been shown to reduce the incidence of herpes zoster (known as shingles). The vaccine contains a minimum of 19,400 plaque-forming units (PFU) of the Oka/Merck strain of live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus. It is sterile and does not contain any preservatives. It is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) in the upper arm. Centres for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of herpes zoster vaccine for people 60 years of age or older, whether or not the person reported a prior episode of zoster. However, Zoster vaccine should not be administered to a person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine. It is recommended that you should not go for this vaccine as it is contraindicated in your case. Hope the information provided would be helpful. All the best.