People who are using Justin Beiber’s Ramsay Hunt syndrome as an anti-vaccine talking point don’t understand that this is a vaccine-preventable condition, and this is a great example why vaccines are important
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a form of shingles, which is caused by the varicella virus that causes chickenpox, in people who have been infected, often decades later. In Ramsay Hunt syndrome, shingles occur in the ear and the nerves in the face are paralyzed
The varicella virus stays dormant in the nerves after an infection. *Any* stress to the immune system can cause a reawakening of the virus and a case of shingles. So to be clear: Shingles (& Ramsay Hunt) are caused by the varicella virus, not a vaccine
Vaccination of kids against the chickenpox virus, and vaccination of immunocompromised people or people 50+ against shingles will prevent against shingles, and also Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Adults under 50 who have not had chickenpox can also get the chickenpox vaccine.
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