From the Guidelines
You should still consider getting vaccinated for shingles even if you've had it before, as the recombinant zoster vaccine, Shingrix, is highly effective at preventing shingles recurrence, reducing the risk by more than 90%. According to the study published in the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection 1, the vaccine efficacy of Shingrix was 97.2% in individuals aged 50 years, and 89.8% in those aged 70 years. The persistence of protection conferred by Shingrix was maintained above 83.3% for up to 8 years, and decreased to 73% at 10 years.
Having had shingles once doesn't prevent you from getting it again, as the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in your body after the initial infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults 50 years and older get two doses of Shingrix, regardless of previous shingles episodes. The vaccine is administered in two doses, given 2-6 months apart.
Some key points to consider:
- Shingrix is highly effective at preventing shingles recurrence, reducing the risk by more than 90% 1
- The vaccine works by boosting your immune system's ability to recognize and fight the virus
- Common side effects include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, and muscle pain, which typically resolve within 2-3 days
- Medicare Part D and most private insurance plans cover the vaccine for eligible individuals
- Getting vaccinated is particularly important because subsequent shingles episodes can be just as painful as the first, and the risk of complications, including postherpetic neuralgia (persistent nerve pain), increases with age.
It's worth noting that while there are other vaccines available, such as Zostavax, Shingrix is the preferred vaccine due to its higher efficacy and longer-lasting protection 1.
From the Research
Shingles Vaccination
- The varicella zoster virus vaccine decreases the incidence of herpes zoster and is approved for adults 50 years and older 2.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends this vaccine for adults 60 years and older, except for certain immunosuppressed patients 2.
- A live, attenuated vaccine aimed at boosting immunity to VZV and reducing the risk of HZ is now available and is recommended for adults older than 60 years 3.
Effectiveness of Shingles Vaccination
- Zostavax(®) is a live attenuated shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine that protected against HZ in adults aged 50-59 years and ≥60 years 4.
- The Shingles Prevention Study demonstrated that HZ vaccine significantly reduced the morbidity due to HZ and PHN in older adults 5.
- HZ vaccine reduced the HZ burden of illness by 61.1% and reduced the incidence of PHN by 66.5% 5.
Considerations for Individuals Who Have Had Shingles
- Having had shingles does not necessarily preclude the need for vaccination, as the vaccine can still provide protection against future episodes 4, 2.
- The need for a booster dose is still unknown, but a study showed that, if necessary, a booster dose administered to adults aged ≥70 years who received their first dose of zoster vaccine ≥10 years previously was immunogenic 4.