Is Shingrix worth getting?

Asked by: Mrs. Janis Rosenbaum Sr.  |  Last update: January 24, 2024
Score: 4.1/5 (36 votes)

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.

Is Shingrix worth the risk?

Shingrix is highly effective. It is 97% effective in preventing shingles in people ages 50–69 years, and 91% effective in people age 70 and older. 2 A person has a small risk of developing shingles if vaccinated.

Do most doctors recommend Shingrix?

CDC recommends that adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease.

What is the best age to get the shingles shot?

Shingrix
  • Shingrix® is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older. ...
  • You should wait at least 1 year before getting Shingrix® if you have had shingles disease or received Zostavax® II.
  • You should not get the vaccine if you currently have shingles disease.

What is the truth about the shingles vaccine?

About 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and long-term pain from the disease. Two doses of Shingrix are more than 90% effective at preventing shingles. So it's very important that you get this vaccine.

Expert Insights: Should I Get the Shingles Vaccine?

18 related questions found

What is the controversy with the shingles shot?

These herpes lawsuits allege that the shingles vaccine was unsafe for patients. The key injury, incredibly, is that the Zostavax shingles vaccine causes shingles and zoster-related injuries. So the very thing meant to protect them against shingles caused shingles.

Does Shingrix have long term side effects?

Shingrix isn't known to cause long-term side effects to occur. Side effects of Shingrix that were reported in clinical trials were short term. In fact, most side effects from this vaccine only lasted between 2 and 3 days before easing.

Why is the shingles vaccine not recommended for people under 50?

The shingles vaccine is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people under 50 years of age because it has only been tested in adults 50 years and older. Shingles is a painful belt-like patterned rash caused by varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox).

Are the side effects of the second Shingrix shot as bad as the first?

Shingrix is administered in two doses, usually two to six months apart. Shingrix is safe and effective for most people. Side effects from the second dose of Shingrix are somewhat more common than the first dose, although that's not always the case. Most side effects of Shingrix are mild and resolve on their own.

When is it too late to get shingles vaccine?

Is it too late for the vaccine to help me? "No. It can still be very effective, although it is recommended that you wait for up to a year after the episode to get the vaccine."

Who should avoid Shingrix?

Who Should Not Get Shingrix. People with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccine or after a previous dose of Shingrix. People who currently have shingles, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should wait to get Shingrix.

Should I get shingles vaccine or not?

CDC recommends two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) to prevent shingles and related complications in adults 50 years and older. Shingrix is also recommended for adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy.

Who is not a candidate for Shingrix the shingles vaccine?

Contraindications and Precautions for Shingles Vaccination

A person who has a weakened immune system because of: HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, or.

What is the lifespan of Shingrix?

Key Takeaways. New data shows that the Shingrix vaccine is 89% effective at preventing shingles in older people for at least 10 years following the two-dose administration. Previous studies had shown the shingles vaccine offered protection for up to seven years.

Why does Shingrix cost so much?

Only one pharmaceutical company—Merck—makes the shingles shot, and there's currently no generic version. That means if you haven't met your annual deductible, you'll likely wind up paying full price for the shot, which is about $217.

Is Shingrix 90% effective?

Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and long-term nerve pain. You may experience some short-term side effects because Shingrix causes a strong response in your immune system. After getting Shingrix: Most people had a sore arm.

What are the side effects of the Shingrix vaccine in 2023?

If the new shingles vaccine made you feel worse than you expected, you're not alone. Skin rash, joint pain, flu-like symptoms, headaches and fatigue are some complaints from patients who've had the recently approved Shingrix vaccine.

How much does the Shingrix vaccine cost?

As of January 2023, manufacturer GSK reports the list price for the Shingrix vaccine as $366.82 or $183.41 per dose. If you don't have health insurance, your pharmacy may charge more than the list price for the vaccine. According to GoodRx, the average retail price per dose of Shingrix is about $213.

What are the disadvantages of shingles vaccine?

Like all vaccines, the shingles vaccines (Zostavax and Shingrix) can cause side effects, but they're generally mild and do not last long. Common side effects that occur in at least 1 in 10 people are: headache. redness, pain, swelling, itching and warmth at the injection site.

Why patients aren t getting the shingles vaccine?

As a vaccine with a small amount of live herpes virus present, Zostavax is contraindicated for people with weakened immune systems, which may have limited the number of seniors who could receive it. It also requires freezer storage, another reason most doctors don't stock it, says Dr. Schaffner.

Can I still get shingles if I've been vaccinated?

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 medications to avoid after shingles vaccine?

Some products that may interact with this vaccine include: drugs that weaken the immune system (including cyclosporine, tacrolimus, cancer chemotherapy, corticosteroids such as prednisone), certain antiviral drugs (such as acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir).

Can Shingrix cause eye problems?

For inactivated vaccines such as Shingrix, the mechanism is more puzzling; one possible explanation is a general upregulated immune response to the vaccine, causing ocular inflammation. Another hypothesis is that adjuvants contained in the vaccines could create an autoinflammatory response.