Should a 72 year old get shingles vaccine?

Asked by: Miss Margarete Marvin  |  Last update: August 17, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (49 votes)

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

Should a 73 year old get a shingles shot?

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 are the side effects of the shingles vaccine for the elderly?

In clinical studies of the shingles vaccine, about 1 in 10 adults reported some pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Some people also report experiencing muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever and upset stomach after receiving the shingles vaccine.

Can you be too old to get shingles vaccine?

ANSWER: There is no upper age limit for the shingles vaccine.

What is the cut off age for the shingles vaccine?

You're eligible for the shingles vaccine when you're aged 70 to 79. When you're eligible, you can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year. The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 and over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.

Expert Insights: Should I Get the Shingles Vaccine?

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Who shouldn't get the shingles vaccine?

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.

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.

Can you get shingles at 75?

While anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of getting shingles, the risk increases with age. In fact, about half of all shingles cases are in adults 60 and older. If a senior member of your family has shingles, you should consider medical treatment to ease your loved one's discomfort and aid recovery.

Can an 80 year old get the shingles vaccine?

The FDA approved a new shingles vaccine for seniors, age 60 and up, last week. The new vaccine, Shingrix, is recommended even for those already inoculated with the older vaccine. In addition, the FDA recommended that adults 50 and up also get re-vaccinated.

Is second Shingrix shot worse than 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.

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.

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.

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.

Do people over 70 get shingles?

The risk of developing shingles increases as you age. About half of all shingles cases are in adults age 60 or older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much greater by age 70.

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.

Why do elderly need shingles vaccine?

There is no cure for shingles, but there is a vaccine that can help prevent people from developing shingles in old age. Almost everybody gets chickenpox, so there is a strong chance of many people developing shingles in old age.

Should 79 year old get shingles vaccine?

You're eligible for the shingles vaccine if you are aged 70 to 79. The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group. Find out more about who can have the shingles vaccine.

Is shingles vaccine free for over 70s?

To be eligible to get the free shingles vaccine in Ontario, you must be 65 to 70 years old and have not previously received a publicly funded shingles vaccine.

Do seniors need a pneumonia shot every year?

The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is for adults over age 65. The pneumonia vaccine for older adults is one dose. Unlike the flu vaccine, you don't get it every year. The vaccine teaches your body to make proteins that will destroy the pneumonia bacteria.

Should a 90 year old get a shingles vaccine?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, recommends that adults age 60 and older get the shingles vaccine, whether you've already had shingles or not. When you get chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus causes a rash to develop all over your body.

Do all seniors get shingles?

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases has also stated that about half of the individuals who live to age 85 will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime.

Can Shingrix cause heart side effects?

Severe allergic reactions to Shingrix are very rare. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness.

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.