Reluctance regarding recurrent herpes zoster

To the Editor: The recent large-scale cohort study on recurrent herpes zoster (HZ) was a useful addition to the controversial literature on the topic.1 Of their 12,522 participants over the age of 50 years who were followed for 3 years, 401 (predominantly immunocompetent) developed laboratory-confirmed HZ, 60 of whom were believed to have experienced recurrent eruptions. A relevant but not earlier referenced zoster vaccine study of 38,546 immunocompetent participants over age 60 who were also followed for 3 years found 984 laboratory-confirmed cases, but only 3 (0.3%) of those were deemed recurrences.

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