Shingles (herpes zoster) , a disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, affects about 1 in 3 people in their lifetimes. Symptoms , including a painful, blistering rash, typically subside after a month, but some people experience postherpetic neuralgia (long-term nerve pain) for months or even years. Shingles can also affect the eyes, causing burning and redness and, in rare cases, blindness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629eee91d62-938c-450e-a1d9-e30fb20c2e32 But there is an effective way to prevent shingles : a vaccine, called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) , that requires two injections in the upper arm, given between two and six months apart. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against a painful and possibly debilitating disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629df2ebd7a-6191-4ad0-8162-b54226433d8f
Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine? Who Should Get It The body’s immune system declines with age, which puts older adults at increased risk for shingles. The CDC recommends that all people 50 and older get the shingles vaccine, even if they: Had shingles in the past (it’s possible to get shingles more than once) Received the old shingles vaccine (Zostavax) that Shingrix replaced The CDC also recommends that adults (19 and older) get the shingles vaccine if they have a weakened immune system — either from a condition like cancer or HIV or from certain medications — that make them more vulnerable to shingles.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762903bb2220-ca74-47c6-a639-9c30ba0427c0 Anyone younger than 50 will need a doctor’s waiver to get the shingles vaccine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b92cdba2-7547-4891-befd-2c50da1084eb
Who Shouldn’t Get the Shingles Vaccine? The shingles vaccine is not recommended for people who: Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine before Currently have shingles Are pregnant or breastfeeding Haven’t had chicken pox — this is highly unlikely for people born in or before 1980, but ask your healthcare provider to test your immunity to be sure. (If you haven’t had chicken pox you should get a chicken pox vaccine .) Chicken pox , like shingles, is caused by the varicella zoster virus. After a person has chicken pox the virus can live quietly in the nervous system for decades until, if the immune system is weakened, it can be reactivated and cause shingles.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290d1e1ac1-4889-46a5-a902-0fc35caba393 People with moderate or severe illness should hold off on getting the shingles vaccine until they’ve recovered (but a mild illness like a cold should not be a problem). When in doubt, check with your doctor.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290d1e1ac1-4889-46a5-a902-0fc35caba393
How Well Does the Shingles Vaccine Work? Effectiveness According to the CDC, Shingrix is 97 percent effective at preventing shingles in adults 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent effective in adults over 70.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629efbcb752-51ab-4f82-9ca7-86caae1fc90d For the small percentage of people who get shingles even after vaccination, Shingrix may reduce the severity and length of symptoms. In these “breakthrough” cases, Shingrix is 91 percent effective at preventing postherpetic neuralgia for people 50 to 69, and 89 percent effective for people 70 and over. e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629efbcb752-51ab-4f82-9ca7-86caae1fc90d The latest research on Shingrix shows that protection against shingles remains high at least seven years after vaccination.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629efbcb752-51ab-4f82-9ca7-86caae1fc90d
Is the Shingles Vaccine Safe? Safety Studies have shown Shingrix to be safe. The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continually monitor safety data about the vaccine, even with its strong record.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294ef05a36-517f-4d74-93bc-da686b6a7387 As with any vaccine, there is a very slight chance of severe allergic reaction to Shingrix. If you experience any of the following, call 911 or go to the ER: Hives Swelling of the face or throat Dizziness or weakness Rapid heartbeat Difficulty breathing In very rare cases, people have developed a serious nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) , after getting Shingrix.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762989f04920-223d-4e63-9eb6-7cc837e06ab4
What Are Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine? Side Effects You may experience side effects after the shingles vaccines, either after the first dose, second dose, or both. These might include: A sore arm, or redness or swelling at the injection site Headache, fever, or muscle pain Tiredness Abdominal pain or nausea Chills and shivering For most people these issues are mild, but some people will experience side effects that make daily activities difficult. Symptoms typically go away in about two to three days and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Younger people are more likely to have side effects.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293fa677ca-3eb9-4b69-b354-cfe9a3f4a8ec
Can the Shingles Vaccine Give You Shingles? There is no evidence that Shingrix can give you shingles. Clinical trials have shown no viral reactivation after immunization. Remember that no vaccine is 100 percent effective, and in a small number of cases people may develop shingles even if they are vaccinated.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fe237806-c16e-4bc3-ba3e-e812aa57fb73
What’s the Difference Between Shingrix and Zostavax? Shingrix uses parts of an inactivated, or dead, virus, while Zostavax relies on a weakened form of the live virus. Zostavax was discontinued in the United States in 2020, largely because of quickly waning effectiveness. If you received Zostavax in the past, you should get vaccinated with Shingrix.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294d47ee20-a471-4844-b4c1-f3c883662068
What Does the Shingles Vaccine Cost? Cost Most people with either private or public health insurance coverage should be able to get the shingles vaccine at no cost. Shingrix is fully covered under Medicare Part D, and most private insurers fully cover Shingrix as well.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f183e5fe-c902-423e-a53e-3f2787e467b1 That’s because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most private insurance plans to cover all vaccines, including Shingrix, that are recommended by the ACA, with no out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid likely covers Shingrix for people over 50 in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA. Those without any insurance coverage will have to pay out of pocket, and the costs may vary. CVS MinuteClinic out-of-pocket cost for each Shingrix shot is $245.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cd0ad29d-886b-446a-a8e1-5d4d33793645
Where to Get a Shingles Vaccine Shingrix is available at most pharmacies and a doctor’s prescription is not necessary if you are eligible, though an appointment might be required. If you’re not sure, this locator will help you find a pharmacy. It’s important to return two to six months after your first dose to get your second dose. If you have a weakened immune system, you can get the second dose one to two months after the first dose. It is important to get both doses for complete protection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c7b703aa-8f4c-4bcd-ae9f-edebd4d77822
The Takeaway It’s no fun to get shots, but the temporary discomfort of two vaccine injections is better than the pain and potential complications of getting sick with shingles. The new shingles vaccine is safe and effective, with side effects that are generally minimal and temporary, if they show up at all. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), just about everyone with private or public health insurance coverage can get the vaccine with zero out-of-pocket cost.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Shingles VaccineMayo Clinic: Shingles OverviewCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Shingles VaccinesMount Sinai Health Systems: Shingles and ChickenpoxNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital: What You Need to Know About Shingles
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