Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Herpes Zoster Vaccine Q&A
(Shingles)
General Questions about the Shingles Vaccine
Is there a vaccine to prevent shingles?
Yes. CDC recommends Zostavax for use in people 60 years old and older to prevent shingles. This is a one-time vaccination. Zostavax does not treat shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone) once it develops.
Is the shingles vaccine safe?
The FDA has licensed the vaccine as safe. The vaccine has been tested in about 20,000 people aged 60 years old and older. The most common side effects in people who got the vaccine were redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the shot site, and headache. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.
How effective is the shingles vaccine?
In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, Zostavax prevented shingles in about half (51%) of the people and post-herpetic neuralgia in 67% of the study participants. While the vaccine was most effective in people 60-69 years old it also provided some protection for older groups.
Can the shingles vaccine be given to people who have already had shingles?
Yes. People who have had shingles can receive the shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. This is true no matter when they first got shingles. UPDATED Oct 2008
Why is the shingles vaccine only recommended for people 60 years and older?
A person's risk for getting shingles begins to rise around age 50. However, shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is only recommended for persons age 60 and older because the safety and effects of the vaccine were only studied in this group, which accounts for about half of all cases of shingles occurring each year in the United States. Future research will determine if the recommended age for vaccination should be lowered.
Shingles occurs in people who have already had chickenpox. Does it matter if a person remembers having had chickenpox? NEW Oct 2008
Anyone 60 years of age or older should get the shingles vaccine, regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox or not. Studies show that more than 99% of Americans ages 40 and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the disease.
Is it ‘worth it’ for older people to get the vaccine? NEW Oct 2008
Yes. The older a person is, the more severe the effects of shingles typically are, so all adults 60 years old or older should get the shingles vaccine.
How long must a person wait after having shingles to receive the shingles vaccine? NEW Oct 2008
There is no specific time that a person must wait before receiving the shingles vaccine. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your doctor and be based on your specific circumstances. Generally, a person should make sure that his or her shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated.
Does the shingles vaccine, which protects against herpes zoster, also protect against genital herpes? NEW Oct 2008
No. The shingles vaccine is specifically designed to protect people against herpes zoster, which is another name for shingles disease. It will not protect people against other forms of herpes, such as genital herpes.
The shingles vaccine is made of a weakened form of the chickenpox virus. Can a person who has received the vaccine infect others with this virus? NEW Oct 2008
No. It is safe to be around infants and young children, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems after you get the shingles vaccine. Transmission of the chickenpox virus from a person who has received the shingles vaccine has never been documented. (For more information on transmission of shingles, read the Shingles Disease Q&A.)
Some people who get the shingles vaccine will develop a chickenpox-like rash near the place where they were vaccinated. As a precaution, this rash should be covered until it disappears.
Is the shingles vaccine covered by insurance? NEW Oct 2008
All Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine. The amount of cost-sharing (money you have to pay) for vaccination varies.
Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine. If you have private insurance, your plan may or may not cover the vaccine; contact your insurer to find out.
Return to main Shingles Vaccination page
Content last reviewed on October 9, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases