Why do you have to be over 50 to get the shingles vaccine?
Asked by: Rosemary Crona | Last update: November 19, 2023Score: 4.6/5 (22 votes)
Dear L.C.: The shingles vaccine has only been tested in adults over age 50, and thus is not indicated for younger ages by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine is particularly important in older people because shingles is more common and has a higher risk of complications in older people.
Is it OK to get shingles vaccine before 50?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) does not recommend zoster vaccination for immunocompetent people younger than age 50 years regardless of their history of shingles.
Can a 40 year old get shingles vaccine?
The shingles vaccine is recommended for people ages 50 and up, but I know folks in their 30s and 40s who've been laid low by this painful condition.
Why do people under 50 get shingles?
Stress can be a factor
McNeil said there can be a number of reasons why a person under 50 would get shingles. One is if people are on medication that suppresses the immune system, such as for Crohn's disease or arthritis.
Why did I get shingles in my 30s?
The risk of shingles for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s
This means that people born before then could have gotten chickenpox as children or might not remember if they were vaccinated. "This is probably why we occasionally see shingles cases in younger patients," Dr. Thomassian says.
Expert Insights: Should I Get the Shingles Vaccine?
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.
What age is the highest risk for shingles?
Although anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, your risk of developing shingles increases with age. Most people get shingles in their 50s or later in life. It's rare to get shingles before 40 years of age. Scientists are still studying why this happens.
How do you catch shingles?
People who never had chickenpox or didn't get chickenpox vaccine can get infected with VZV from someone who has shingles. These people can get the virus through direct contact with the fluid from shingles rash blisters or breathing in virus particles that come from the blisters.
At what age can you not get shingles?
It's uncommon for someone to get shingles more than once. People of all ages can get shingles, but most cases are in people over 50 years old.
How did I get shingles if I never had chickenpox?
People cannot get shingles without having recovered from chickenpox. The reactivation of VZV in a person's body causes shingles. There is also a low risk of a person developing shingles after having direct contact with a shingles rash. The chickenpox virus is more likely to spread VZV to others than 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.
How long does the shingles shot last?
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.
Do I need the shingles vaccine if I never had chickenpox?
They should get the vaccine whether or not they recall having had chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus as shingles.
What causes shingles in adults?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
Why is shingles so contagious?
A person with shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. The blister fluid is filled with virus particles. It usually appears on the trunk or face. The virus is spread through direct contact with the rash or through breathing in virus particles that get mixed in the air.
How do you prevent getting shingles?
There is one vaccine, Shingrix, which is very effective in preventing shingles and complications, including postherpetic neuralgia. Shingrix is a recommended vaccine for all adults age 50 years and older whether or not they have had shingles or previously received varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
What medications can trigger shingles?
Radiation or chemotherapy can lower your resistance to diseases and may trigger shingles. Some medications. Drugs that prevent rejection of transplanted organs can increase your risk of shingles. Long-term use of steroids, such as prednisone, may also increase your risk of developing shingles.
Who is less likely to get shingles?
Shingles is more common in people of non-Hispanic white ancestry than in those of African American ancestry. According to the CDC, herpes zoster is at least 50% less common in Blacks than in whites. One study concluded that elderly Blacks were up to 75% less likely to develop herpes zoster than elderly whites. Health.
What percent of people get shingles?
Summary. Shingles is a skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV also causes chickenpox, and anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles later in life. About a third of Americans will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime.
Will shingles go away on its own?
If shingles is not treated it may go away on its own. However, there is an increased risk of developing a long-term painful condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN can last for weeks or years. Do not wait for shingles to go away on its own.
Do healthy people get shingles?
While it typically resolves in about a month for most people, it can also cause severe and long-lasting pain that is very difficult to treat. Myth: Shingles only affects older people. Fact: Shingles typically affects older people, but it can also occur in healthy younger persons and even in children.
What is mistaken for shingles?
Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic rash can be mistaken for shingles by some, but rarely by health professionals who know what to look for. While red and itchy like some other rashes, the shingles rash is otherwise very distinct.