From the Research
Adults who have been exposed to chickenpox should wait until the chickenpox outbreak has completely resolved before getting the shingles vaccine, which is typically around 2-3 weeks from the onset of the rash, as supported by general medical knowledge and guidelines. The shingles vaccine, also known as Shingrix, is a recombinant vaccine, not live attenuated, and should not be given to someone who is actively infected with chickenpox or to someone with a compromised immune system who has been recently exposed 1. This waiting period is important because getting the vaccine too soon after exposure could potentially worsen symptoms or be less effective. Additionally, if you've never had chickenpox and were exposed, you should discuss with your healthcare provider whether you need the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax) instead of the shingles vaccine. Some studies have shown the effectiveness of varicella vaccines as postexposure prophylaxis, with an effectiveness of 62.3% in preventing any type of disease and 79.4% in preventing moderate and severe disease 2. However, the shingles vaccine is generally recommended for adults 50 years and older, regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox in the past, and its effectiveness in preventing herpes zoster has been shown to be around 50% in patients with inflammatory arthritis 3. A recent study has also shown that increased uptake of the recombinant zoster vaccine can avert millions of additional herpes zoster cases worldwide, with a numbers needed to vaccinate of 10 for the entire cohort aged ≥50 years 4. It's essential to note that the safety and efficacy of recombinant and live herpes zoster vaccines have been studied in at-risk adults with chronic diseases and immunocompromising conditions, and vaccination can be an effective strategy against herpes zoster in these individuals 1. Key points to consider include:
- Waiting until the chickenpox outbreak has completely resolved before getting the shingles vaccine
- Discussing with a healthcare provider whether the chickenpox vaccine is needed instead of the shingles vaccine if you've never had chickenpox and were exposed
- The shingles vaccine is generally recommended for adults 50 years and older
- The effectiveness of the shingles vaccine in preventing herpes zoster
- The safety and efficacy of recombinant and live herpes zoster vaccines in at-risk adults with chronic diseases and immunocompromising conditions.