From the Research
If you miss the second dose of Shingrix, you should get it as soon as possible, though there's no need to restart the series. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the second dose be administered 2-6 months after the first dose, but if more time has elapsed, you should still receive the second dose without restarting. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that provides protection against shingles (herpes zoster) and is about 90% effective when both doses are received, as shown in a study published in 2021 1. The second dose is crucial for developing long-term immunity, as a single dose does not provide the full intended protection. Some key points to consider:
- The vaccine works by boosting your immune system's ability to recognize and fight the varicella-zoster virus, which causes both chickenpox and shingles.
- A study published in 2022 found that the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) is effective in preventing herpes zoster and related complications in adults aged ≥19 years who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed because of disease or therapy 2.
- If you're concerned about timing, contact your healthcare provider who can advise you based on your specific situation and help schedule your second dose.
- It's also worth noting that the vaccine effectiveness of Shingrix was found to be 70.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 68.6-71.5) and 56.9% (95% CI, 55.0-58.8) for 2 and 1 doses, respectively, in a real-world observational study 1. However, the most recent and highest quality study, published in 2021, provides the most relevant evidence for this recommendation 1.