Should I get the shingles vaccine? If I've already had shingles, should I get the vaccine so that I don't get shingles again?Answer From Pritish K. Tosh, M.D. Show
People who are eligible to get it should get the Shingrix vaccine in the U.S. Shingrix is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for adults age 50 and older for the prevention of shingles and related complications, whether they've already had shingles or not. You may get the Shingrix vaccine even if you've already had shingles. Also, consider getting the Shingrix vaccine if you've had the Zostavax vaccine in the past, or if you don't know whether you've had chickenpox. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. It's given in two doses, with 2-6 months between doses. The most common side effects of a shingles vaccine are redness, pain, tenderness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and headaches. The shingles vaccine Zostavax is no longer sold in the U.S. but may be available in other countries. Although some people will develop shingles despite vaccination, the vaccine may reduce the severity and duration of it. It can also reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia, a shingles complication that causes shingles pain to continue long after the blisters have cleared. Studies suggest protection against shingles with Shingrix may extend beyond five years. Talk to your doctor about your vaccination options if you:
The cost of the shingles vaccine may not be covered by Medicare, Medicaid or insurance. Check your plan. With Pritish K. Tosh, M.D. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is
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. As the U.S. prepares for nationwide distribution of vaccines to combat COVID-19, some are asking whether people who get the first of two doses will return to complete the series. The leading vaccine candidates from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna both require individuals to receive a second shot within a specific timeframe to achieve maximum effectiveness. This analysis draws on Medicare Part D prescription drug claims data for the herpes zoster vaccine Shingrix, which also requires two doses, to shed light on this potential challenge of the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Shingrix is recommended for adults ages 50 and older to prevent herpes zoster, also known as shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash and can lead to long-term pain and other problems. The second dose of Shingrix is to be administered between 2 and 6 months after the first dose. Overall, one-third of adults ages 60 and older in 2018 reported having ever received a shingles vaccine, but this estimate does not provide insight into which groups of older adults were more or less likely to get the second dose within the recommended timeframe after having received the first. To address this question, we looked at Medicare beneficiaries who received an initial dose of Shingrix in the first half of 2018 to analyze what share received the second dose within the recommended timeframe and which subgroups of beneficiaries were more or less likely to receive both doses. Because people 65 and older are expected to be one of the earlier groups to receive COVID-19 vaccination, this analysis offers insight into what the experience might be among older adults in receiving the full regimen of multidose COVID-19 vaccines. The majority of Medicare beneficiaries who received an initial dose of the Shingrix vaccine received the second dose within six months, but follow-up rates were lower among beneficiaries in communities of color, those who are younger than age 65 with long-term disabilities, and low-income beneficiaries.Most (74%) Medicare beneficiaries who received an initial dose of Shingrix between January and June of 2018 received the second dose within 6 months (Figure 1). Conversely, 1 in 4 beneficiaries (26%) who received an initial dose of Shingrix between January and June 2018 did not receive the second dose within the recommended timeframe. An additional 6% of beneficiaries received the second dose after the 6-month timeframe but no later than the end of 2018.
Notably, unlike the COVID vaccine which will be covered at no cost for Medicare beneficiaries, the Shingrix vaccine is not free to Medicare beneficiaries without LIS, but it is covered at very low cost to beneficiaries who receive LIS. In 2018, Medicare Part D enrollees without LIS paid an average of $57 out of pocket for each shot, while those who received LIS paid $5. (Under Part D, a separate copayment is required for each dose in the series.) It is possible that out-of-pocket costs deterred some beneficiaries from getting the follow-up shingles vaccine, but other factors may also be barriers to completing the series, such as lack of communication between providers and patients or misunderstanding about the necessity of the second dose, the hassle factor of a return visit to a doctor’s office or pharmacy for the second shot, or being deterred by adverse effects after the first dose. Patients can sign up on the Shingrix website to receive a second dose reminder, but doing so requires knowledge and action by patients. Research shows that pharmacist reminder calls can also help boost compliance with the shingles vaccine series, but this may not happen systematically across all providers. The fact that the second dose of the two leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates is administered no more than one month after the first dose – versus up to 6 months between the first and second doses of the shingles vaccine – could mitigate some of the loss to follow up observed with the shingles vaccine. Moreover, preliminary evidence showing that the two COVID-19 vaccines closest to FDA authorization are highly effective in preventing COVID-19, a potentially fatal disease, may translate to higher take-up rates for the second shot than we observed with Shingrix. In addition, states and vaccine providers are being encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to attempt to schedule a second dose appointment at the time of a patient’s first dose. As part of a national vaccine education campaign, having systems in place for providers to communicate with patients about returning for a second dose is likely to be important in ensuring full compliance with the new COVID-19 vaccines. But the differences we observed in the percent of beneficiaries in different racial and ethnic groups, different age cohorts, and different income levels who received the second dose of Shingrix also underscore the challenges ahead in inoculating vulnerable populations against COVID-19. Juliette Cubanski and Tricia Neuman are with KFF. Anthony Damico is an independent consultant.
How long is the shingles vaccine good for?Zostavax®, the shingles vaccine, reduced the risk of shingles by 51% and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67% based on a large study of more than 38,000 adults aged 60 years or older. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years.
What happens if you forget to get your second shingles shot?If you received one dose of the Shingrix® vaccine but a shortage kept you from getting your second dose – a painful case of shingles still could be in your future. The makers of Shingrix claim its protection is sustained at a high level for at least four years – but only if you get both doses two to six months apart.
How many times do you need shingles shots?Answer: The Shingrix® vaccine is given in two doses, at least two to six months apart. The Shingrix® vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and long-lasting nerve pain (post herpetic neuralgia). In research studies, immune responses have been shown up to 9 years after immunization.
Should I get the new shingles vaccine if I had the old one?“People who had the old vaccine will benefit from getting the new one,” Hrncir said. “Also, shingles can recur. So even if you've already had shingles, get the new vaccine.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, offers advice about those who should not get the new vaccine.
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Do i need a second shingles vaccine
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