Doha, Qatar: The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has announced that the Herpes Zoster Vaccine is now available free of charge for both citizens and residents across all its health centers. This initiative reflects PHCC’s continued commitment to enhancing public health protection and reducing the risk of infectious diseases and their complications among the community.

Herpes zoster typically appears as a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters that develop in a localized area of the skin following the path of a single nerve. In nearly 80% of cases, symptoms such as tingling, itching, or a burning sensation occur a few days before the rash develops. Dr. Rand Aboud, Family Medicine Specialist at PHCC’s Omar Bin Al Khattab Health Center, stated that “one in three people will develop herpes zoster in their lifetime, and the risk increases substantially after the age of 50.”

The condition results from the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in the body after an initial infection during childhood. A person with active herpes zoster can transmit the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox or its vaccine - in which case, that person will develop chickenpox, not herpes zoster. The infection is no longer contagious once the blisters have dried and formed scabs.

Dr. Rand noted that individuals over 50, those with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, lung disease, or kidney failure are at higher risk of developing herpes zoster. Complications can include post-herpetic neuralgia — persistent nerve pain that affects 10–18% of patients even after recovery - as well as vision or hearing problems, facial paralysis, or in rare cases, brain inflammation.

PHCC is urging adults, particularly those over 50 or with chronic conditions, to take advantage of the free vaccine available across its centers. The two-dose vaccine is non-live, safe, and provides more than 90% protection for healthy adults and 70–90% protection for those with weakened immunity. Mild and short-lived side effects may occur, including fatigue, slight fever, or redness at the injection site. PHCC encourages everyone eligible to consult their family physician and receive the vaccine as an important step toward preventing illness and ensuring long-term well-being.