Shingles vaccine and shingles that affect the eye (herpes zoster ophthalmicus)
The Impact of the Herpes Zoster Vaccine on Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
This project looks at whether the shingles vaccine helps prevent painful eye-involving shingles in adults and how vaccination rates differ by age and groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11371330 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will review large-scale U.S. health and vaccination records from before and after the new shingles vaccine became available to see how often eye-involving shingles (HZO) occurs. They will track vaccine uptake over time, including gaps linked to early shortages and COVID-19 disruptions, and analyze whether HZO rates are rising in age groups not currently eligible for vaccination. The team will look for demographic and social factors tied to lower vaccination rates that could leave some people at higher risk. Findings could inform who should be offered vaccination and where outreach is most needed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults in the United States—particularly those aged 50 and older who are eligible for the shingles vaccine, and middle-aged adults whose health records are captured in participating systems—are the main groups whose data would be relevant to this project.
Not a fit: People outside the U.S., those without accessible medical or vaccination records, or those already blind from prior HZO are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could support changes to vaccination recommendations and targeted outreach that reduce cases of vision-threatening eye shingles.
How similar studies have performed: Previous real-world observational studies, including work by this team, have shown the recombinant zoster vaccine is highly effective against shingles overall, but evidence focused on eye-involving shingles and long-term uptake and disparities is still limited.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acharya, Nisha — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Acharya, Nisha
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.