Key points
- Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect yourself against this painful disease.
- Vaccination is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in adults 50 years and older with healthy immune systems.
- Adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications and should also get vaccinated.
Introduction
Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and related complications from the disease. The vaccine is given as a two-dose series.
What’s available
Recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine, called Shingrix, can prevent shingles. Shingles vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. If you have questions about Shingrix, talk with your healthcare provider.
Recommendations
Shingles vaccine is recommended for the following groups:
Adults 50 years and older
2 doses
(separated by 2 to 6 months)
Adults 19 years and older with weakened immune systems due to disease or therapy
2 doses
(if needed, can get 2nd dose 1 to 2 months after 1st)
Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.
Why getting vaccinated is important
About 1 in every 3 people in the United States will have shingles in their lifetime. The risk of shingles increases with age.
By preventing shingles, recombinant shingles vaccine also protects against postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common shingles complication. PHN is long-term nerve pain which can be severe and debilitating. The pain occurs in the areas where the shingles rash was. PHN can last for months or years after the rash goes away.
Who should get vaccinated
Adults 50 years and older should get vaccinated. There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix. You should also get Shingrix even if you have previously:
- Had shingles
- Received ZostavaxA
- Received varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix. Generally, make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.
Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella-zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.
- You can get Shingrix whether or not you remember having had chickenpox in the past.
- More than 99% of Americans born on or before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having the disease.
- Adults with weakened immune systems and no documented history of chickenpox disease, chickenpox vaccination, or shingles should talk to their healthcare provider.
Who shouldn’t get vaccinated
You should not get Shingrix if you:
- Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix.
- Currently have shingles.
- Currently are pregnant. You should wait to get Shingrix.
If you have a minor illness, such as a cold, you may still receive Shingrix. But if you have a moderate or severe illness—with or without fever—you should wait until you recover before getting the vaccine.
The vaccine is safe and effective
Studies show that Shingrix is safe. In clinical trials, Shingrix was not associated with serious adverse events.
Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common shingles complication.
- In adults 50 to 69 years old with healthy immune systems—Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles; in adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 91% effective.
- In adults 50 years and older—Shingrix was 91% effective in preventing PHN; in adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 89% effective.
- In adults with weakened immune systems—Shingrix was between 68% and 91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on the condition that affects the immune system.
In people 70 years and older with healthy immune systems, Shingrix immunity remained high for at least 7 years after vaccination.
Possible side effects
Shingrix causes a strong response in your immune system, helping your body create a strong defense against shingles. As a result, the vaccine may produce temporary side effects which usually last 2 to 3 days. Common side effects from Shingrix include:
- A sore arm with mild or moderate pain.
- Redness and swelling at the site of the injection.
- Tiredness, muscle pain, headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, and nausea.
These side effects may temporarily prevent a vaccinated person from doing regular activities. Symptoms usually go away on their own in 2 to 3 days. Side effects were more common in younger people. You should still get the second dose of Shingrix even if you had one of these reactions after the first dose.
Although you may have pain for a few days after getting Shingrix, it will be less severe than the pain from shingles and its complications. If you experience side effects, you may take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a serious nervous system disorder, has been reported very rarely after Shingrix. There is also a very small increased risk of GBS after having shingles.
When to see a healthcare provider
Contact your healthcare provider if the symptoms are not improving or if they are getting worse. If you experience side effects from Shingrix, report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor might file this report, or you can do so through the VAERS website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Finding and paying for the vaccine
Shingrix is available in doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
Vaccine costs
There are several ways shingles vaccine may be paid for:
Medicare & Medicaid
Starting in 2023, people with Medicare Part D coverage will pay nothing out-of-pocket for the Shingrix vaccine.
Medicaid may or may not cover the vaccine. Contact your insurer to find out.
Private health insurance
Many private health insurance plans will cover the vaccine, but there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. Contact your insurer to find out.
Vaccine assistance programs
Some pharmaceutical companies provide vaccines to eligible adults who cannot afford them. You may want to check with the vaccine manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, about Shingrix. If you do not currently have health insurance, learn more about affordable health coverage options.
