Question: Is it recommended to receive the shingles vaccine, and why?

Answer:
It is recommended to receive the shingles vaccine because most treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) suppress the immune system to some degree. This suppression can lead to the “reactivation” of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which causes shingles. This virus typically remains dormant in the body and can become active under conditions such as immunosuppression.

Additionally, studies in the medical literature have reported a higher prevalence of this virus in MS patients.

It is advised to get a shingles vaccine that is not based on a live attenuated virus but rather on an inactivated virus or its components.

In summary, it is highly recommended to receive the inactivated shingles vaccine to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

Question: Who recommends and approves medical cannabis treatment under the new regulations?

Answer:
Regarding medical cannabis, the treating neurologist must recommend the treatment and its dosage. The patient should then receive a prescription from a designated center that exists in each of the health funds: Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet, and Leumit. It is necessary to check with each health fund where their prescription center is located.

The Ministry of Health is no longer involved in the approval process for medical cannabis.

Question: Do the “new” medications with a “higher average effectiveness” necessarily have a more effective impact on every individual compared to older drugs, or is this just a statistical “average,” with individual responses varying? And is the effectiveness of a drug at the onset of the disease the same in later stages?

Answer:
Early treatment of MS can prevent cumulative disability, regardless of the frequency of disease relapses. Recent studies emphasize the importance of starting treatment early to improve long-term outcomes and reduce disease progression over time.

The new treatments have been shown to significantly reduce the frequency of MS relapses, slow disease progression unrelated to relapses, and decrease the occurrence of new demyelinating lesions on imaging.

Their effectiveness is statistically significantly higher compared to older treatments, according to conducted studies.

However, the response to any medication is highly individual (including side effects). Not everyone reacts in the same way. Each case should be evaluated individually, with the specific medication being tailored to the patient through a discussion between the patient and their treating physician.