GSK puts spotlight on Shingles in new awareness campaign via Grey Global and Orchard Marketing
Experts and high-profile Australians are rallying to help the community learn more about shingles (herpes zoster) via a new campaign from Grey Global and Orchard Marketing to raise awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of the viral disease.
The latest data from a study in general practice estimates that around 120,000 new cases of shingles occur each year, which accounts for approximately one in 1000 of all GP visits.
Shingles symptoms vary between patients, but for some people it can be a painful and potentially debilitating condition. Shingles is triggered by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus) in adulthood and it is reported that up to 99.5% of adults ≥50 years of age already have the virus that can cause shingles.
Up to 1 in 3 people risk developing shingles in their lifetime. While most people fully recover from shingles, some may experience complications.
Up to 25% of Australians with shingles may develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complication of shingles that can result in persistent nerve pain for months or years after the initial shingles rash resolves.
The new campaign will comprise TV commercials, radio spots, a new website (knowshingles.com.au) and Australian personalities to spread the word.
The campaign sees patients describe their shingles pain as being like “shocks shooting through your body.”
Peter Everett, the former host of Renovation Rescue and Ready Steady Cook, has his own experience of shingles.
Says Everett: “I had shingles for a month after the stress of Celebrity Apprentice a few years ago. The pain was truly awful and it was very difficult to sleep.”
Infectious disease expert Professor Robert Booy says shingles can be extremely painful and an awareness campaign like this is long overdue given the potential impact of shingles.
Says Professor Booy: “Too many Australians are still unaware of the early signs and symptoms related to herpes zoster.
“Because the virus that causes shingles comes from within the body, public health measures like social distancing or mask wearing don’t impact rates of shingles. However, since the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles are the same, if a person who has never had or isn’t protected against chickenpox, comes into direct contact with the blisters of someone with shingles, they may get chickenpox.
“Given our immune systems decline as we get older, I encourage all adults from around the age of 50 years to be talking to their doctor about shingles.”
For more information about shingles, speak to your healthcare professional and visit knowshingles.com.au
GSK Australia – Know Shingles
Creative: Grey Global, Orchard Marketing
Media planning: Publicis Groupe
PR: Palin Communications
11 Comments
Can you get the second az covid injection if you have a current dose of shingles
I congratulate you on the new awareness campaign to warn people about shingles.
My suggestion however is for your adds to cover the case of getting shingles in the eye.
Both my brother in law and myself experienced this and he now has lost sight in his right eye. In my case I lost sight in one eye and after “early” treatment have about 75 percent vision in that eye.
I had shingles in September of 2018 the rash lasted around 4 weeks bu I have been left with nerve pain some day a very painful other day not too bad I’ve tried different medications that has not worked and different creams on the area on my back and tummy when I’ve spoken to my GP about it they say it’s a funny thing to treat ?? I have asked about the shingle injection nd told I’m not old enough to have this ? Can I get shingles again? Any help would be helpful thank you
I had shingles at 12 and 51. You can get the vaccine in the uk but not free until perhaps 70. Go to a private gp £150 ish.
I scoffed at the TV add because I thought what is the point of showing shocking pain and suggesting people talk to their GP.
I thought if symptoms are so shocking why would you need an add to tell you to see GP.
However, I have since contracted shingles, and been incapacitated for weeks.
My question.
Why does add not focus more on
Most vulnerable groups and
PREVENTATIVE measures, e.g vaccination
“Why does add not focus more on PREVENTATIVE measures, e.g vaccination”
Are you naive? Why do you think GSK made this ad? Prevention means no more money for GSK.
I got shingles of the face and eye at 34. Very uncomfortable and painful. It’s only been 3 weeks so we’ll see if any long term side affects come of it. Lucky enough my eye will be fine but the feeling of pain keeps me up at night. Highly recommend going to the doctor immediately if you have any strange electric shock feelings to your face. If anyone has any remedies to ease the pain other than pain killers I would love to know.
“Help the community…” my foot. More like helping money to flow into GSK coffers. This nauseating GSK ad is cleverly disguised, aping NHS ads (ad seen in UK), and which avoids naming the source of the ad giving the impression that it IS an NHS ad. GSK is jumping on the fear-of-viruses bandwagon and causing unnecessary alarm. The reason? to get people to visit their doctors who will then prescribe GSK drugs.
Like shocks, shooting through your body.
The covid vaccine caused immune suppression which is why we had an outbreak of shingles in 2021, 2022. It wasn’t just shingles (herpes zoster) but also erythema multiforme (herpes simplex). These viruses come out because the immune system policing them is suppressed.
The answer is NOT another vaccine. The answer is to get your immune system functioning well with good sleep, vitamin D and exercise.
What a horrible unecessarily sinister ad..
…..
Putting the frighteners on people….
Shame on you….
Instead give information how to avoid it….
😡😡😡