According to Rutecki (2013), shingles is on the rise and there are more than one million cases of shingles per year in the United States. There is no cure for shingles. In order for this statistic to be reduced, health care providers must educate the patients about prevention. The Centers for Disease Control (2011) recommends a vaccination called Zostavax. This vaccination has been proven in studies to be affective in patients 50 years old and older (Keating, 2013). The CDC (2011) recommend those age 60 and older to take the vaccine. Zostavax can reduce the risk of shingles by 51% in this population (CDC, 2011). The risk of PHN is reduced by 67% (CDC, 2011). Zostavax is a live vaccine that is given subcutaneously, usually in the upper arm. This is the best prevention available and can be taken even if a person has already had shingles. The most common side effects of the vaccine are redness, tenderness, and swelling at the injection site (one in three), and headache (one in 70). Some people may get a chicken pox-type rash at the site of injection. No major problems have been found with the vaccine. Persons who have had severe reactions to gelatin or neomycin should not be given this vaccine. Other persons who should not be given Zostravax are those with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, HIV, prolonged steroid use, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, lymphoma, or leukemia. Pregnancy is also a contraindication. (CDC, 2011) Health Promotion Project Implementation This project was implemented at the Thomasville Nutrition Center. The center serves the community of Thomasville by providing noon meals for $1.25 to its senior citizen. They also have other activities such as games, singing, devotions, educational opportunities, and
According to Rutecki (2013), shingles is on the rise and there are more than one million cases of shingles per year in the United States. There is no cure for shingles. In order for this statistic to be reduced, health care providers must educate the patients about prevention. The Centers for Disease Control (2011) recommends a vaccination called Zostavax. This vaccination has been proven in studies to be affective in patients 50 years old and older (Keating, 2013). The CDC (2011) recommend those age 60 and older to take the vaccine. Zostavax can reduce the risk of shingles by 51% in this population (CDC, 2011). The risk of PHN is reduced by 67% (CDC, 2011). Zostavax is a live vaccine that is given subcutaneously, usually in the upper arm. This is the best prevention available and can be taken even if a person has already had shingles. The most common side effects of the vaccine are redness, tenderness, and swelling at the injection site (one in three), and headache (one in 70). Some people may get a chicken pox-type rash at the site of injection. No major problems have been found with the vaccine. Persons who have had severe reactions to gelatin or neomycin should not be given this vaccine. Other persons who should not be given Zostravax are those with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, HIV, prolonged steroid use, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, lymphoma, or leukemia. Pregnancy is also a contraindication. (CDC, 2011) Health Promotion Project Implementation This project was implemented at the Thomasville Nutrition Center. The center serves the community of Thomasville by providing noon meals for $1.25 to its senior citizen. They also have other activities such as games, singing, devotions, educational opportunities, and