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Shingles is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that’s responsible for chickenpox. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles during their lifetime.
The CDC recommends that adults 50 years and older should get two doses of the shingles vaccine, called Shingrix, to prevent shingles and its complications. You should get Shingrix if you:
While vaccination is important to prevent shingles, it can also cause certain side effects. Most common side effects after vaccination are mild, and go away on their own. Serious side effects from vaccines are extremely rare, with 1 to 2 people in every million showing any adverse reaction.
Therefore, you should always be prepared for possible side effects. This article informs you of the possible side effects of the shingles vaccine, including adverse reactions, and if you should get it.
Shingles is a viral infection that causes painful rashes to occur anywhere on your body. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the varicella-zoster virus.
Once you’ve had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in your nervous system even years after you have been cured of the infection. This virus can become active again at any point in your life, appearing in the form of shingles.
This infection is characterized by red skin rash and blisters that can appear anywhere on the body, but usually appear as a strip on one side – typically the face, neck, or torso.
The characteristic symptoms of shingles are:
Most cases of shingles clear up within 3 to 5 weeks. However, you can get shingles more than once in your lifetime.
The shingles vaccine provides protection against shingles and significantly reduces the risk of complications, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles.
According to the CDC, two doses of Shingrix can provide “strong protection” against it.
PHN occurs in the areas where the rash was even after it clears up, and can last for months or even years. It can cause, severe, long-term nerve pain.
According to a study, the rate of PHN after shingles increases with age:
The Shingrix vaccine is a non-live vaccine that contains parts of the causative virus. This allows the body to build up immunity against it.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Shingrix vaccine claims the following benefits:
Besides PHN, the shingles vaccine can protect you from other complications of shingles, including:
Complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, hearing problems, and death are rare complications of shingles.
Shingrix is currently the only vaccine approved by the FDA.
According to the CDC, adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. However, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.
However, Shingrix is not the only vaccine available in other nations.
According to the National Health Service (NHS), there are two shingles vaccines used in the UK:
According to the NHS, most people are administered the Zostavax vaccine, which is a live-attenuated vaccine. However, people with a weakened immune system are offered the Shingrix vaccine.
In most studies, the Shingrix vaccine is shown to be superior to the Zostavax vaccine in terms of its effectiveness and its ability to prevent complications.
Shingrix is currently the only vaccine approved by the FDA.
According to the CDC, adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. However, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.
However, Shingrix is not the only vaccine available in other nations. According to the National Health Service (NHS), there are two shingles vaccines used in the UK:
According to the NHS, most people are administered the Zostavax vaccine, which is a live-attenuated vaccine. However, people with a weakened immune system are offered the Shingrix vaccine.
In most studies, the Shingrix vaccine is shown to be superior to the Zostavax vaccine in terms of its effectiveness and its ability to prevent complications.
According to the CDC, you are likely to have temporary side effects from getting the Shingrix vaccine shots. These side effects might affect your ability to do normal daily activities for 2 to 3 days.
At most instances, the shingles vaccine does not produce any side effects. However, some people might experience some mild side effects, which may include:
Besides these, some people may experience side effects from the Shingrix vaccine that can prevent them from doing regular activities. Most symptoms go away on their own in 2 to 3 days.
If you do experience these side effects, you can take an OTC pain medication for some relief.
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the shingles vaccine, you could develop a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. This is known as anaphylaxis, and it can be fatal if not treated immediately.
According to the CDC, only one or two people for every million doses of the vaccine show any serious reactions.
The signs of an adverse reaction are:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical assistance. Someone who has a history of severe allergies or has experienced an anaphylactic shock before should always carry an EpiPen for emergency situations.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is another rare yet adverse side effect of the shingles vaccine. It is a rare autoimmune disorder that damages the body’s nerves. Early symptoms of GBS include weakness and tingling, usually beginning in the legs. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis.
Any adverse reactions to the Shingles vaccine should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your healthcare provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself by visiting the VAERS website or calling 1-800-822-7967.
Almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. The risk of getting shingles increases as you get older and about 1 to 4 percent of people get hospitalized due to complications of shingles.
With older adults the most likely to get shingles, the CDC recommends two doses of the shingles vaccine for adults 50 years and older.
Currently, Shingrix is the only shingles vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meanwhile, the Zostavax vaccine is still in use in countries like the United Kingdom.
According to the CDC, the shingles vaccine helps you prevent future occurrences of the disease, as well as its complications.
You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:
Shingrix is a high rate of success in terms of preventing shingles and its complications. According to the CDC, it claims:
The vaccine also significantly prevents the chance of developing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN):
Besides older adults, it is also recommended that adults aged 19 years and older with weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix.
The effectiveness of the vaccine in individuals with weakened immune systems is:
The Shingrix vaccine is not recommended for individuals younger than 50 years with a healthy immune system. There is no maximum age limit for getting the shingles vaccine.
While the CDC recommends the shingles vaccine for everyone aged 50 years and older, there are certain cases when a person should avoid getting the vaccine:
In all cases, it is a good measure to take a doctor’s advice before getting the shingles vaccine.
The CDC recommends adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix), spread 2 to 6 months apart.
Shingrix is currently the only available shingles vaccine in the United States. It boasts a high efficacy of over 90 percent in preventing shingles and its complications like postherpetic neuralgia.
According to the CDC, the Medicare Part D plans cover the shingles vaccine, although there may be a cost to you depending on your plan. It also mentions that Medicare Part B does not cover the shingles vaccine.
Immunity stays strong for at least the first 7 years after vaccination. There is no current recommendation for booster doses.
According to Shingrix, 90 percent of privately insured patients 50 years and older pay no or limited out-of-pocket costs, with the average cost being less than $50 per dose. The retail cost for the shingles vaccine is $162 per shot.