Likewise, the vaccine can prevent shingles in 68 to 91% of immunocompromised people; How it works for you may depend on the type of illness you have.

4. It reduces the risk of painful complications of shingles.

Shingles itself hurts, but the complications can be even worse. As we mentioned, PHN is one of the major areas of concern. This causes burning, shooting, or aching pain along your nerves where your rash appears, which can seriously interfere with your daily life. About 10-18% of people who get shingles will end up with PHN (especially older people) and this can take months. years after your breakouts have gone – and sometimes for a lifetime. Fortunately, the vaccine can prevent PHN in 91% of adults 50 and older and 89% of adults 70 and older.

Vaccination can also reduce the risk of other serious complications of shingles. For example, if it appears on your face, you may lose some of your vision. Or very Rarely, infection can lead to problems such as pneumonia, hearing difficulties, and inflammation of the brain, which can be life-threatening.

5. You can get it safely even if you’ve had shingles, an older vaccine, or the chickenpox vaccine.

There was an OG shingles vaccine called Zostavax that became available in the United States in 2006. But after research showed the new vaccine provided better protection, it was pulled from the market in November 2020. study found that its effectiveness in adults aged 50 and older rose to 67% in the first year after vaccination, but then dropped to 50% in the second year, 27% in the eighth year, and 15% after a decade . So anyone who received the old vaccine should receive Shingrix as soon as possible, says Dr. Assoumou.

The same advice applies to the chickenpox vaccine. If you were born in 1995 or later, you probably received the two-dose series as a child; If you were born before that, you probably had a bout of chickenpox, even if you don’t remember it. Regardless of which bucket you fall into, you can and should still get your shingles vaccine at age 50.

Although most people only get shingles once in their life, you can get it a second time, especially if you are immunocompromised. A study published in February revealed that shingles developed Again in up to 10% of people in the general population and in up to 18% of people with weakened immune systems. So this means it’s perfectly safe (and even recommended) to get vaccinated if you’ve ever had shingles. There is no specific time you should wait to receive your vaccine in this scenario, but make sure all rash is gone (this may take about 2 to 4 weeks) before making an appointment.

6. What side effects can you expect with Shingrix?

Like most vaccinesShingles can temporarily leave you feeling a little uncomfortable. You may develop arm pain and swelling around the injection site, as well as fatigue, muscle pain, headache, fever, stomach pain, or nausea after one or both doses. Side effects usually go away in about 2 to 3 days, and you can certainly take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary. Remember that these symptoms are completely normal. “Here’s the thing: The reason you don’t feel well is because this vaccine works so well. It stimulates your immune system, stimulates things and produces very good antibodies that will protect you,” explains Dr. Assoumou. “Maybe for a day or two you won’t feel well, but it’s worth it because it will decrease your risk of getting shingles and its complications. In very In rare cases, some people develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after vaccination, a neurological disorder that can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing or speaking, and abnormal heart rate. (Keep in mind that shingles itself can also cause GBS.)

So if you haven’t received this photo yet, consider scheduling one when you can. The sooner you get vaccinated, the better, because unlike some other viruses, chickenpox zoster can strike whenever it wants. “As an infectious disease doctor, nothing excites me more than having a vaccine that could prevent something that I know could have consequences and be very painful,” says Dr. Assoumou.

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