Why do elderly need shingles vaccine?
Asked by: Miss Freida Shields PhD | Last update: September 9, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (7 votes)
Why should older adults get the shingles vaccine?
The risk of shingles increases with age. By preventing shingles, recombinant shingles vaccine also protects against postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles. PHN is long-term nerve pain and occurs in the areas where the shingles rash was.
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.
How serious are shingles in the elderly?
Although rare, if left untreated, more serious complications like blindness, pneumonia, brain inflammation, hearing problems, heart attacks, stroke or even death can occur. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the infection.
Why is the shingles vaccine only for 70 and 79 year olds?
Whilst the vaccine is authorised for use from age 50 years and is effective in this age group, the burden of shingles disease is generally not as severe compared with older ages, the duration of protection and need for reinforcing doses of vaccine are not known and the most cost effective age to offer the vaccine ...
Shingles Vaccine Coverage Low in Elderly Americans - ICAAC 2013
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.
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.
What foods should you avoid when you have shingles?
Patients with shingles infection or lesions should avoid excess arginine (an amino acid) in their diet. Food sources of arginine to avoid include nuts and seeds, beans and lentils, soybeans and tofu, gelatin, canned tuna, chicken, egg, whole grain wheat flour, raw garlic and onion, and chocolate syrup.
Does the shingles vaccine 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 shingles caused by stress?
Why stress increases the risk of shingles. “Stress can increase your risk of developing shingles,” Dr. Thaker says. “A severe amount of stress can weaken the immune system, which can allow the virus to reactivate.”
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 should avoid shingles vaccine?
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.
How common is Guillain-Barré after 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.
What is the most important vaccine for the elderly?
The CDC recommends that all adults age 50 and older get pneumococcal vaccination. This vaccine helps protect you from getting a serious infection, including pneumonia. There are multiple forms of the pneumococcal vaccine: Talk to a health care provider to find out which is best for you.
Is the shingles vaccine worth the risk?
The vaccine lowers your chances of getting shingles. If you get the vaccine and still get shingles, you are likely to have much less pain and for a much shorter time. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends two doses of the shingles vaccine for adults ages 50 and older.
What medications should I avoid after the shingles vaccine?
- acetaminophen.
- anakinra.
- azathioprine.
- baricitinib.
- cancer medications (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, venetoclax, vincristine)
What are the negative side effects of the shingles vaccine?
- Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site.
- Muscle pain.
- Tiredness.
- Headache.
- Shivering.
- Fever.
- Upset stomach.
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.
Where is the most painful place to get shingles?
Shingles pain can be mild or intense. Some people have mostly itching; some feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze. The most common location for shingles is a band, called a dermatome, spanning one side of the trunk around the waistline.
Why can't you shower with shingles?
Hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles; therefore, a hot shower should be avoided. Towels should be immediately washed to avoid spreading the virus.
Is coffee bad for shingles?
In the days before a shingles outbreak, there are typically cases of extreme, unexplained fatigue. Unfortunately, the most common response to this symptom is to increase caffeine intake, which only dehydrates the body and intensifies symptoms of fatigue.
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 painful are shingles on a scale of 1 to 10?
“Shingles is extremely painful," Wigand-Bolling said. “On a scale from one to 10, most patients will say the pain ranges from six to 10.” Between 1 and 5 days after the first symptoms occur, a rash will develop in the affected area.
Who is most likely to get shingles?
Shingles typically occurs in people older than 50. And people over the age of 60 are more likely to experience more-severe complications. Some diseases. Diseases that weaken your immune system, such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, can increase your risk of shingles.