Can you still get shingles if you had Shingrix?

Asked by: Veda Treutel III  |  Last update: September 8, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (19 votes)

While the shingles vaccine is highly effective, some people can still get shingles. However, people who do get shingles after getting the shingles vaccine usually have milder symptoms and a shorter illness. You'll also be less likely to have complications from shingles, including postherpetic neuralgia.

What are the chances of getting shingles after Shingrix vaccine?

The vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of getting shingles by 50% for Zostavax® II, and to more than 90% for Shingrix®. For those who still get shingles after being immunized, the vaccines can reduce pain, including the type of pain that lasts after shingles.

Does Shingrix completely prevent shingles?

Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. In adults 50 years and older who have healthy immune systems, Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Immunity stays strong for at least the first 7 years after vaccination.

How long is the shingles vaccine good for?

How Well Does Zostavax Work? 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.

How long does the Shingrix vaccine last?

The shingles vaccine has been found to be effective for up to 10 years after it's given. Since the protection lasts so long, it's unlikely that we'll ever need shingles booster shots. Ask your provider if you're eligible for a shingles vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Expert Insights: Should I Get the Shingles Vaccine?

25 related questions found

What can be mistaken for shingles?

The symptoms of shingles can sometimes resemble those of other conditions, such as : cellulitis. chickenpox. herpes simplex.

How many shingles shots do you need in a lifetime?

The CDC recommends all healthy adults ages 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine to prevent shingles and problems that can develop after you've had the disease. The two doses should be separated by two to six months.

How often do you need to repeat the shingles vaccine?

* Healthcare providers and eligible patients should make every effort to ensure that two doses of Shingrix are administered within the recommended interval of 2 to 6 months. If more than 6 months have elapsed since the first dose, administer the second dose as soon as possible. Do not restart the vaccine series.

What triggers a shingles outbreak?

Shingles is caused when the chickenpox virus is reactivated. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerves for many years. Shingles is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of 50.

Should an 80 year old get the shingles vaccine?

Healthy adults age 50 and older should get vaccinated with the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, which is given in two doses.

How many times can you get shingles?

Once a person has chickenpox, the virus stays in their body. The virus can reactivate later in life and cause shingles. Most people who develop shingles only have it one time during their life. However, you can have shingles more than once.

What is the best age to get the shingles shot?

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.

When is it too late to take antiviral for shingles?

"Far too many times, patients will come in five or seven days after they notice their rash. At that point, it's too late for an antiviral to have significant effect on the duration of the virus."

What do shingles look like when they first start?

The first symptoms are usually pain, tingling, or itching on the skin. Next, a rash of macules, which might look like burns, will appear. Over time, the macules will turn into painful blisters that rupture, scab over, and dry out.

Will shingles go away on its own?

If shingles is not treated it may go away on its own. However, there is an increased risk of developing a long-term painful condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN can last for weeks or years. Do not wait for shingles to go away on its own.

Should I get the new shingles vaccine if I had the old one?

If you got a shingles vaccine in the past, still get Shingrix. You may have already got a different shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is no longer in use in the United States. If you did, you still need 2 doses of Shingrix.

Can I get shingles vaccine and COVID booster at same time?

Yes. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccinations like a flu or shingles vaccine at the same time or close together, according to the CDC.

Can you get shingles twice even after the vaccine?

Yes: although it's uncommon, you can get shingles multiple times. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus sticks around in your body after chickenpox symptoms go away, lying dormant in your nerves, held in check by your immune system.

Is Shingrix given every 5 years?

The effects of the Shingrix vaccine last for at least four years in most people and may last even longer in some. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you do not need a booster dose after getting the two doses of Shingrix.

Why is the shingles vaccine so expensive for seniors?

If you're covered by Medicare, you may feel the pain of a shingles shot more in your wallet than in your arm. That's because the federal program that insures most seniors in the U.S. provides poor coverage for some recommended vaccines, including shingles, and could leave some people paying $200 or more for protection.

Can you have shingles without a rash?

It is possible for a person to develop shingles without being affected by the rash, although this is rare. When shingles occurs without the rash being present, this is called zoster sine herpete (ZSH).

What is the best over the counter medicine for shingles?

Certain over-the-counter medications can help ease the pain or reduce the inflammation experienced with shingles:
  • Acetaminophen is used to treat mild to moderate pain and should be taken only as directed. ...
  • Ibuprofen can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. ...
  • Naproxen is used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

What do shingles spots look like?

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.