What is the difference between zoster and Shingrix?
Asked by: Mr. Ladarius Batz | Last update: January 8, 2026Score: 5/5 (13 votes)
Is zoster the same as Shingrix?
Shingrix® replaced Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) on 1 November 2023 and is the preferred vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles). It is the only funded zoster vaccine that is available for free for eligible groups under the NIP.
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.
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).
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.
Shingles Vaccines: Zostavox vs. Shingrix
Who Cannot take Shingrix?
Who should not receive Shingrix®? Shingrix® should not be given to individuals who have any allergies to any of the ingredients in Shingrix® vaccine. Those with a severe acute illness with or without fever should usually wait until the symptoms subside before being immunized.
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.
Which is better, Shingrix or Zostavax?
A single dose of Zostavax may be used in people who are immunocompetent if Shingrix is not accessible. However, Shingrix is more efficacious,2 particularly in the elderly, and will likely offer longer-lasting protection against herpes zoster than Zostavax.
What is the controversy with the shingles shot?
In a post-marketing observational study in individuals aged 65 years or older, an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (estimated 3 excess cases per million doses administered) was observed during the 42 days following vaccination with Shingrix.
Does Shingrix last a lifetime?
Immunity from the vaccine lessens over time, but it does so very gradually. Studies have shown that among people age 70 and older, Shingrix provides at least 85% protection against shingles for up to four years after completing the two-dose series,3 and remains high for at least seven years.
Is the shingles vaccine linked to lower 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.
Why can't over 80s have shingles vaccine?
The vaccine's effect diminishes with age, therefore people aged 80 or older aren't eligible to receive the vaccine.
Is there a downside to the shingles vaccine?
The most common side effects of a shingles vaccine are headaches and pain, soreness, swelling and itching where the shot was given. On white skin, the area might look red. On Black or brown skin the redness might be harder to see.
What is the best shingles vaccine for seniors?
CDC recommends Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine or RZV) for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) and related complications.
Why was Zostavax taken off the market?
Without Warning. Though Zostavax was used widely throughout the U.S., it proved after only a few years that it was not as effective as originally thought. The FDA's initial press release noted that the rate of serious complications was higher in those who were given the shot compared to those who received a placebo.
What happens if you don't get a second 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.
Why was Shingrix recalled?
The recall is a precautionary measure due to the potential for loss of integrity of the antigen vial, although a search of GSK's global adverse event database has not identified a safety signal for Shingrix lot #9LH3Y related to infections or lack of efficacy, events that could occur if there were a loss of integrity ...
How common is Guillain-Barré after the Shingrix vaccine?
A self-controlled case series found an increased risk of GBS during a 42-day period after vaccination with Shingrix [11]. The study also found an estimated three cases of GBS per million vaccinations administered in adults aged 65 and older [11].
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.
Who is not a candidate for Shingrix, the shingles vaccine?
You cannot get Shingrix if you currently have an infection, had the chickenpox vaccine, are pregnant, or allergic to Shingrix vaccine.
Is zoster the same as shingles?
Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems. Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses. This is the same group that includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. As a result, shingles is also known as herpes zoster.
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.
Who should avoid Shingrix?
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 triggers a shingles outbreak?
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.
Why is the shingles vaccine not covered by insurance?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private health insurance plans to cover all ACIP-recommended vaccines, including SHINGRIX, with no cost sharing (deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance) if administered in-network.