Is the Shingrix vaccine worth it?

Asked by: Bernardo Metz  |  Last update: December 2, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (41 votes)

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.

Is Shingrix worth getting?

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.

Do you recommend the shingles vaccine?

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.

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.

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?

15 related questions found

What are the negatives of shingles vaccine?

Some people felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. Some people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days. Side effects were more common in younger people.

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.

What percentage of people have Shingrix side effects?

Side Effects and Counseling for Reactogenicity

Also, about 1 out of 10 reported grade 3 systemic reactions such as myalgia, fatigue, headache, shivering, fever, and gastrointestinal illness. Most people (78%) who got Shingrix reported at least some pain at the injection site.

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.

How often does Shingrix have side effects?

Unsolicited adverse events that occurred in ≥1% ofrecipients of SHINGRIX and at a rate at least 1.5-fold higher than placebo included chills (4% versus 0.2%), injection site pruritus (2.2% versus 0.2%),malaise (1.7% versus 0.3%), arthralgia (1.7% versus 1.2%), nausea (1.4% versus 0.5%), and dizziness (1.2% versus 0.8%) ...

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 are the odds of getting shingles?

About 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their life. Your risk of having shingles increases as you get older or if you have a weakened immune system. Most people who have shingles only have it one time. However, you can have shingles more than once.

What is the best vaccine to prevent shingles?

Two vaccines are licensed and recommended to prevent shingles in the U.S.. Zoster vaccine live (ZVL, Zostavax) has been in use since 2006. Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix), has been in use since 2017 and is recommended by ACIP as the preferred shingles vaccine.

Is Shingrix a once in a lifetime shot?

Previous studies had shown the shingles vaccine offered protection for up to seven years. Since the vaccine's efficacy is long-lasting, experts say it's unlikely people will ever need a shingles booster shot.

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.

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.

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.

Is it better to wait longer between Shingrix shots?

* 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.

Has anyone gotten shingles from Shingrix?

Can the Shingrix vaccine cause shingles? No. Shingrix contains only a small part of the varicella zoster virus that causes shingles. Shingrix does not contain any live varicella zoster virus.

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.

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.

Is there a class action suit against Shingrix?

What is the Shingrix vaccine lawsuit? The Shingrix vaccine lawsuit is a class-action lawsuit filed against GSK by patients who claim that the vaccine caused them to develop serious side effects, including nerve damage, chronic pain, and other neurological problems.

How long is the shingles vaccine good for?

Summary. The shingles vaccine provides strong protection from shingles and PNH for approximately 7 years . People should aim to get the vaccine if they are aged 50 years or above with a healthy immune system or 19 years and above with a weakened immune system.

Can shingles affect blood pressure?

Also, the pain in acute cases may be so severe that the stress can increase blood pressure to unhealthy levels.