Why don t doctors recommend the shingles vaccine?
Asked by: Thea Larkin | Last update: November 23, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (40 votes)
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.
Why was the shingles vaccine taken off the market?
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.
Is there any reason not to get a shingles shot?
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.
Why are doctors pushing the shingles vaccine?
Some people get shingles even with the vaccine. But the vaccine may reduce how bad shingles is and how long it lasts. The vaccine also can lower the risk of a shingles complication that causes shingles pain to go on long after the blisters have cleared. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.
When Should You Get the Shingles Vaccine? | GoodRx
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.
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 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.
How can you prevent shingles without a vaccine?
While you can't avoid catching the virus that causes shingles—unless you've not had the chickenpox—taking steps to stay healthy like getting enough rest, managing stress, eating a healthy diet, and getting the shingles vaccine can lessen the chances of experiencing a severe shingles flair.
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].
What is the alternative to the shingles vaccine?
Zostavax is available globally, although it is not readily available in the United States. Zostavax is made from a weakened live shingles virus, while Shingrix is made from a recombinant zoster vaccine and contains no shingles virus, weakened or otherwise.
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 ...
What percentage of people get sick from the shingles vaccine?
However, in a CDC analysis of clinical trial data, Dr. Kathleen Dooling of the Division of Viral Diseases stated that about 1 in 6 patients receiving Shingrix reported reactions severe enough to prevent normal activities while three out of four patients experienced at least some pain.
What triggers a shingles outbreak?
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.
Can Shingrix cause neurological problems?
Neuropathy is a recognized adverse event of the Shingrix vaccine [6]. The QS-21 component in the AS01 adjuvant in the Shingrix vaccine has been correlated with the neurological adverse events of the vaccine [7].
Is there a downside to the shingles vaccine?
The shingles vaccine helps your body's immune system build up a solid defense against shingles, so you may experience temporary side effects after getting the shots. These side effects may include: Pain or soreness at the injection site. Redness or swelling at the injection site.
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 medications should I avoid after the shingles vaccine?
- acetaminophen.
- anakinra.
- azathioprine.
- baricitinib.
- cancer medications (e.g., carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, venetoclax, vincristine)
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 it worth getting the shingles vaccine?
It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness. You're more likely to get shingles, and it's more likely to cause serious problems, as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system. The shingles vaccine helps: reduce your chances of getting shingles.
Who is most likely to get shingles?
Age and weak immune system increase your risk of getting 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.
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.
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.”
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.