Article translated and edited by: Adisorn SuksomatthuReviewed and proofread by: Khomsthanon SukajjasakulShared information:There was misinformation published on the New York Post website on April 20, 2021, claiming that shingles could be a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. It became a viral message with hundreds of thousands of shares, likes, and comments on Facebook and Instagram combined.Conclusion :The patient has shingles. Must have had chicken pox or varicella virus. Zoster had only been in the body before.Although there are reports that the immune system from the COVID-19 vaccine It may stimulate people with the virus in their body to develop shingles. But infection with the COVID-19 virus Can stimulate more shingles.Currently able to prevent both diseases. with the chickenpox vaccine or specifically the shingles vaccineFACT CHECK : Check the facts :The New York Post article cited research by Furer and colleagues. Published in the medical journal RheumatologyThe aim of the resear ch is to collect information on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. affecting patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases, in which the immune system attacks joints, muscles, bones and organs.Although rheumatic patients are likely to experience complications from exposure to the COVID-19 virus. But information on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine that there are still limited rheumatic patients This is because there has been no trial of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine in rheumatic patients. During COVID-19 vaccine trialsResults of COVID-19 vaccine trials with rheumatic patientsIn the experiment of Furer et al. It was found that the group of rheumatic patients who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 6 weeks experienced 491 side effects, while the control group experienced side effects from the vaccine in 99 cases.in the group of rheumatic patients who received the vaccine Found 6 cases of shingles, while the control group did not find a single case of shingles.But the New York Post newspaper reported that research confirms that the COVID-19 vaccine causes shingles It is a message that creates misunderstandings. Because people who are sick with shingles can There must be the Varicella Zoster Virus, which is the virus that causes shingles, in the body only.Chickenpox and ShinglesShingles (Herpes Zoster, Shingles) is a skin disease caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.Even if the patient has recovered from chicken pox But the varicella virus Zoster remains hidden in nervous system tissue. and may lead to shingles in the future.Risk factors include the patient's weakened immune system and stress. That may stimulate the activity of the virus, causing shingles.In addition, rheumatic patients who use immunosuppressive drugs to suppress pain Glucocorticoids There is a risk of activating the virus. Until being sick with shingles as wellTherefore it cannot be concluded that Occurrence of shingles among rheumatic p atients This is because of the stimulus from the COVID-19 vaccine. or because of the use of immunosuppressantsTherefore, general vaccine recipients who have never had chickenpox or varicella virus Zoster in the body Therefore, there is no way to get shingles because of the COVID-19 vaccination.Relationship between the COVID-19 vaccine and shinglesCurrently, there are several studies that study the relationship between the COVID-19 vaccine and shingles, both studies that do not find a relationship and studies that speculate that the COVID-19 vaccine It contributes to shingles or herpes, etc.In addition, there is research that has found a relationship between COVID-19 infection. with the same symptoms of shinglesThe best way to prevent shingles is the chickenpox vaccination which is effective in preventing chickenpox and shingles up to 90%in the united states There is also a shingles vaccine for people who have had chickenpox. which is effective in preventing shingles up to 97%Source: Thai News A gency