Viola Davis partners with GSK to raise shingles awareness

Actress Viola Davis is sharing her personal experience with shingles to support GSK’s “Shingles, Actually” campaign. The initiative aims to encourage candid conversations about aging and increase awareness among adults aged 50 and older regarding their risk of the disease.

Davis described her experience with the viral infection as “debilitating,” noting that the pain and rash were so severe she initially suspected she had been bitten by a poisonous spider. She recalled experiencing flu-like symptoms and a painful rash that reached a “nine out of 10” on the pain scale, causing significant difficulty with movement and nerve pain.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the condition can result in an itchy or painful rash and may lead to long-term nerve damage.