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Columbia University Medical Center NewsroomCUMC Expert Resources
| ![[picture of Anne Gershon, M.D.]](http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/news/pics/Gershon_90.jpg) Anne Gershon, M.D.,
The FDA recently approved the first vaccine to prevent shingles. Dr. Anne Gershon, professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center, is an internationally recognized researcher in vaccines and antiviral therapy, and leads the Women and Children''s Care Center at Children''s Hospital.Dr. Gershon says that FDA approval of the first vaccine to prevent shingles in healthy older individuals is a major advance in the medical care of people over 60 years old. This vaccine has been shown to be very safe in these people. It not only offers protection against shingles, also known as herpes zoster, but also helps to prevent development of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Dr. Gershon explains that both shingles and PHN are serious and painful and constitute major health problems in older individuals. Vaccination of persons above age 60 is expected to improve the quality of life for the elderly. For press inquiries, please call 212-305-3900.
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