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Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know

Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
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Published on October 29, 2024
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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.

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.

Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine?

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.

Anyone younger than 50 will need a doctor’s waiver to get the shingles vaccine.

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.

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.

How Well Does the Shingles Vaccine Work?

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.

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.

The latest research on Shingrix shows that protection against shingles remains high at least seven years after vaccination.

Is the Shingles Vaccine Safe?

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.

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.

What Are Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine?

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.

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.

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.


What Does the Shingles Vaccine 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.

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.

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.

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.

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Jane Yoon Scott, MD

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Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health, and encouraging them to ask questions so that they can make informed and thoughtful decisions.

She graduated with the highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, then received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internal medicine residency training and chief residency at Temple University Hospital, as well as a fellowship in infectious diseases at Emory University. She is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases.

When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Scott works with neighboring health departments to promote public health, especially to communities that have been historically underserved. She also teaches medical trainees and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine.

In her free time, Dr. Scott appreciates a good coffee shop, weekend hikes, playing guitar, strolling through cities, sampling restaurants, and traveling to new places.

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A multimedia journalist and author, Larry Buhl is a longtime contributor to Positively Aware, TheBodyPro and Capital & Main. He has also contributed to KQED, Marketplace, Distillations, The New Republic, A&U, Salon, Fast Company, the BBC and others. He's based in Los Angeles.
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Resources
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  2. Shingles Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 19, 2024.
  3. Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 31, 2024.
  4. FDA Requires a Warning About Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Be Included in the Prescribing Information for Shingrix. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 24, 2021.
  5. Altukhaim F et al. Reactivation of Herpes Zoster After Recombinant Vaccine (Shingrix): A Case Report. Cureus. January 31, 2023.
  6. Shingles Vaccine: Should I Get It? Mayo Clinic. January 6, 2024.
  7. Shingrix: Cost and Coverage. GlaxoSmithKline.
  8. Price List. CVS MinuteClinic. September 2023.
  9. Clinical Considerations for Shingrix Use in Immunocompromised Patients Aged ≥ 19 Years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 9, 2024.