Shingles Vaccination: What You Need to Know
Information for the General Public
The vaccine for shingles (Zostavax®) is recommended for use in
people 60 years old and older to prevent shingles. The older a
person is, the more severe the effects of shingles typically are,
so all adults 60 years old or older should get the shingles
vaccine.
The shingles vaccine is specifically designed to protect people
against shingles and will not protect people
against other forms of herpes, such as genital herpes. The shingles
vaccine is not recommended to treat active
shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone)
once it develops.
Disease Protection
In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old
or older, Zostavax reduced the risk of shingles by about half (51%)
and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%. While the vaccine
was most effective in people 60-69 years old it also provided some
protection for older groups.
Research suggests that the shingles vaccine is effective for at
least six years, but may last longer. Ongoing studies are being
conducted to determine how long the vaccine protects against
shingles.
Who Should Get the Vaccine
CDC recommends Zostavax for use in people 60 years old
and older to prevent shingles. This is a one-time
vaccination. There is no maximum age for getting the shingles
vaccine.
Anyone 60 years of age or older should get the shingles vaccine,
regardless of whether they recall having had chickenpox or not.
Studies show that more than 99% of Americans ages 40 and older have
had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember getting the
disease.
Shingles vaccine is available in pharmacies and doctor's
offices. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have
questions about shingles vaccine.
At this time, CDC does not have a recommendation for routine use
of shingles vaccine in persons 50 through 59 years old. However,
the vaccine is approved by FDA for people in this age group.
Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive the
shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease.
There is no specific time that you must wait after having shingles
before receiving the shingles vaccine. The decision on when to get
vaccinated should be made with your health care provider.
Generally, a person should make sure that the shingles rash has
disappeared before getting vaccinated.
To find medical practices or pharmacies near you that offer the
vaccine, visit www.zostavax.com
.
Who Should NOT Get the Vaccine
Some people should NOT get shingles
vaccine.
- A person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic
reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other
component of shingles vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any
severe allergies.
- A person who has a weakened immune system because of
- HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune
system,
- treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as
steroids,
- cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy,
- cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as
leukemia or lymphoma.
- Women who are or might be pregnant
Possible Reactions to Vaccination
No serious problems have been identified with shingles
vaccine.
The vaccine has been tested in about 20,000 people aged 60 years
old and older. The most common side effects in people who got the
vaccine were redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the shot
site, and headache. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to
monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.
It is safe to be around infants and young children, pregnant
women, or people with weakened immune systems after you get the
shingles vaccine. There is no documentation of a person getting
chickenpox from someone who has received the shingles vaccine
(which contains varicella zoster virus).
Some people who get the shingles vaccine will develop a
chickenpox-like rash near the place where they were vaccinated. As
a precaution, this rash should be covered until it disappears.
The shingles vaccine does not contain thimerosal (a preservative
containing mercury).
Reimbursement for Vaccination
All Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine. The amount
of cost-sharing (money you have to pay) for
vaccination varies.
Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles
vaccine. Medicaid may or may not cover the vaccine; contact your
insurer to find out.
Most private health insurance plans cover the vaccine for people
60 years of age or older, while some plans cover the vaccine for
people 50 to 59 years of age.
Some pharmaceutical companies provide vaccines to eligible
adults who cannot afford them. For information on the patient
assistance program that includes Zostavax (shingles vaccine), see
http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/vaccines/home.html.
To find medical practices or pharmacies near you that offer the
vaccine, visit www.zostavax.com.
Related Links
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Shingles Vaccination page