Zostavax Vaccine Analysis

Atorvastatin possibly interacts with the mechanism of the Zostavax vaccine by attenuating the immune responses that should occur after administration of the vaccine. Without a proper immune response, there is a decreased antibody production against the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Atorvastatin contains immunomodulating properties that as it inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, it causes a decrease in isoprenoid pyrophosphates. Isoprenoid pyrophosphates are necessary to activate Ras-related GTPases. Without this activation, there is a decline in the activation and proliferation of T-cells in the body.3 Atorvastatin causes an increased CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells proliferation, and this contributes to age-linked immunosenescence and latent disease …show more content…
A study completed during the influenza seasons of 2009-2011 investigated the relationship between long-term statin therapy and its influence on influenza vaccine efficacy (VE). The results of this post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional observational study, along with a clinical trial, indicated that statins caused a decreased antibody titer after vaccine administration. Over 6000 adults over the age of 65 that had been on statin therapy for at least 28 days before influenza vaccine administration were included in this randomized, controlled, observer-blind clinical trial. Blood samples taken on the day of vaccination and 22 days after vaccination compared the hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) titers. Results from this study were that irrespective of the type of influenza vaccine, the geometric mean titer (GMT) ratio was consistently higher in the control group. In the controls, the GMT ratio was 38% higher for A(H1N1), 68% higher for A(H3N2), and 38% higher for influenza B. The HAI titers were also less in statin therapy patients that were male and patients that were using synthetically derived statins. The decreased HAI titers suggest that there was a decreased serological response to the vaccine in