Is there Shingles Vaccine? How often do you need to get the Shingles vaccine?

There is a vaccine available to prevent shingles. The shingles vaccine is called Zostavax, and it is a live, attenuated vaccine that contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The vaccine is recommended for individuals aged 50 years and older, and it is administered as a single injection.

In 2017, a new vaccine called Shingrix was approved for use in the United States and other countries. Shingrix is a non-live vaccine that contains a protein from the varicella-zoster virus, along with an adjuvant to enhance the immune response.

The vaccine is recommended for individuals aged 50 years and older, and it is administered as a two-dose series.

The shingles vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get shingles. But this vaccine will likely reduce the course and severity of the disease. And it will likely lower your risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

Studies suggest that Shingrix offers protection against shingles for more than five years. It is important to note that the shingles vaccine is not recommended for everyone.

Individuals who have a weakened immune system, are allergic to any of the vaccine components or have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine should not receive the vaccine.