Is Shingrix better than zoster vaccine?

Asked by: Darrin Wisoky  |  Last update: November 7, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (15 votes)

Shingrix® is the preferred shingles vaccine and can be administered to people who are immunocompromised. Zostavax® is contraindicated (should not be used) in anyone with severe immunocompromise.

Which is better, zoster or Shingrix?

Official answer. The main difference is that Shingrix is more effective at preventing shingles (herpes zoster virus) than Zostavax (overall: 97.2% vs. 51%, respectively). Shingrix is an FDA-approved vaccine to help prevent the occurrence of herpes zoster (shingles).

Why was the zoster vaccine discontinued?

Merck & Co.'s Zostavax was discontinued in 2020 because of waning effectiveness over time. Curevo hopes to change that and go head-to-head with GSK's Shingrix — which notched $4.3 billion sales last year — with a vaccine that's as effective but has a lower rate of side effects.

What is the best shingles shot to get?

CDC recommends Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine or RZV) for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) and related complications.

Do you need Shingrix if you had the zoster vaccine?

Answer: Shingrix is recommended for people 50 years of age and older to prevent shingles, including those previously immunized with the live zoster vaccine (Zostavax II).

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Why do some doctors not recommend the shingles vaccine?

But safety in pregnant women has not been proven yet, and so it is not recommended during pregnancy. Severe reaction to an earlier dose. If you had a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of RZV, you shouldn't have the second dose. Be careful also if you have had allergic reactions to other vaccines.

How many shingle shots do you need in a lifetime?

Until further research suggests otherwise, older adults generally only need to get the two-dose Shingrix series once. No Shingrix vaccine booster is currently available. Recommendations and the availability of boosters could change as scientists learn more about how long protection from the shingles vaccine lasts.

Is Shingrix worth the risk?

People who can get the Shingrix vaccine in the U.S. should get it. That includes people who have had shingles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that adults age 50 and older should get the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles and complications from the.

Which groups of 70 age patients should not receive zoster vaccine?

As with other live viral vaccines, zoster vaccine is generally contraindicated in people who are immunocompromised due to disease or medication. Haematologic malignancy and metastatic cancer are absolute contraindications.

What happens if I only get one Shingrix shot?

However, in those adults who received only one dose instead of the recommended two, the effectiveness dropped rapidly after the first year and only offered 52% protection against shingles after three years. These results reinforced the importance of getting the second dose.

What is the controversy with Shingrix?

A warning about GBS was already included in the Shingrix PI. This described the findings of an observational study in individuals aged 65 years or older which showed an increased risk of GBS (estimated 3 excess cases per million doses administered) observed during the 6 weeks following vaccination.

Does Shingrix reduce risk of dementia?

Shingrix was associated with 17% lower risk of dementia than Zostavax, and 23-27% less than with the other vaccines. This equates to 5-9 more months lived without dementia for those who had been given the Shingrix vaccine compared to the other vaccines.

What percentage of people get shingles after the vaccine?

The shingles vaccine is 97% effective in preventing shingles in people ages 50 to 69 years old. It's 91% effective in people ages 70 years and older. In addition, the shingles vaccine is 91% effective in preventing PHN in people ages 50 to 69 years old. It's 89% effective in people ages 70 years and older.

Who should avoid shingles shot?

There are a few situations in which shingles vaccination may not be right for you. You should not get Shingrix if you've ever had a severe reaction to a vaccine. This means you had trouble breathing or swelling in your mouth or airway, a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis.

What shingles vaccine does CVS use?

CVS Health is now offering GlaxoSmithKline 's new shingles vaccine at its pharmacies nationwide as Shingrix continues to gain momentum. Shingrix is available at all of CVS' more than 9,800 locations, the drugstore chain said Friday.

What is the FDA warning for Shingrix?

In a postmarketing observational study, an increased risk of GBS was observed during the 42 days following vaccination with SHINGRIX [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Syncope (fainting) can be associated with the administration of injectable vaccines, including Page 5 4 SHINGRIX.

What is the difference between Shingrix and zoster?

Shingrix and Zostavax are FDA-approved to prevent shingles (herpes zoster). Both vaccines are indicated to prevent shingles in adults aged 50 years and older. However, unlike Zostavax, Shingrix is also approved to prevent shingles in immunocompromised or immunodeficient adults aged 18 years and older.

Who cannot get Shingrix vaccine?

You should not get Shingrix if you: Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix. Currently have shingles. Currently are pregnant.

What are the chances of getting Guillain-Barré from the shingles vaccine?

Hospitalizations due to shingles have been estimated at 45,000–75,000 annually. In comparison, based on post-marketing surveillance data, the estimated risk of GBS after Shingrix is only around three excess cases per million doses administered. Most vaccine adverse events, like GBS, are transient and self-limited.

Why do I feel so bad after Shingrix?

A: Shingrix works by strengthening the immune system's defenses against reactivation of the virus. In some people, this process may cause mild soreness, redness, swelling, or pain in the arm at the injection site. These symptoms last for two or three days.

What percentage of people have a bad reaction to Shingrix?

Adverse events of arthralgia, infective pneumonia, and influenza-like illnesses occurred in ≥1% of recipients of SHINGRIX and at a rate at least 1.5-fold higher than placebo (1.5% vs 1.0%, 1.5% vs 0.9%, and 1.3% vs 0.6%, respectively).

What triggers shingles to flare up?

After having chickenpox, the virus stays in the nerve cells of your body but is not active. Shingles occurs when the virus becomes active again usually many years later. The virus may be reactivated by stress, illness, immunosuppression, older age, trauma and radiotherapy. But shingles often occurs for no known reason.

What medications should I avoid after the shingles vaccine?

There may be an interaction between herpes zoster vaccine and any of the following:
  • acetaminophen.
  • anakinra.
  • azathioprine.
  • baricitinib.
  • cancer medications (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, venetoclax, vincristine)

What happens if you don't get the second shingles shot?

1 The second dose is given between 2 and 6 months after the first. Don't skip the second shot, even if you are concerned about side effects. If you don't get the second Shingrix shot, you'll be less protected from shingles than you will be if you get both shots.