This activity includes immunization credit.

Program Description

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is a painful rash that occurs due to the reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus. As the immune system undergoes age-related decline, the risk of reactivation increases in older adults and those with chronic comorbid conditions or receiving immunosuppressive therapies. Shingles has been found to affect 1 in 3 adults in their lifetime, but despite its common occurrence, surveys have found a lack of public awareness and low perception of risk among older adults. Current updates that will be highlighted in this webinar include recommendations for shingles vaccination and novel handling requirements for the recombinant zoster vaccine. This webinar will support pharmacists as shingles vaccine administrators with proactive strategies to identify patients at high risk of shingles and leverage interventions to dispel myths and misconceptions contributing to shingles vaccine hesitancy. Patient counseling techniques and evidence-based efficacy data will be presented. Participants will gain practical tips to advocate for the 2-dose recombinant zoster vaccine series, successfully manage adverse effect expectations, guide immunocompromised populations in vaccine decision-making, and employ pharmacy tracking systems to support full series completion.

Target audience: Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist
Type of activity: Application
Release date: August 25, 2026
Expiration date: October 25, 2026
Time to complete activity: 1 hour
Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

Describe the burden of shingles and the public health significance of shingles vaccination, particularly among older adults and immunocompromised populations
Explain the clinical efficacy, safety, and updated administration methods of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV)
Apply effective communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and educate patients on the importance of completing the shingles vaccine series
Use best practices to increase adherence and completion rates of the RZV series in diverse patient populations

Disclosures

Olivia Kinney, PharmD, MS, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Adam Welch, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA; Kylie Ferrentino; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

At least one anonymous peer reviewer has been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

Continuing professional education activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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Shingles Vaccination: Opportunities for Pharmacist Interventions to Provide Patient Education

Olivia Kinney, PharmD, MS

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