Are you nearing (or over) 50? If so, chances are you’ve heard about the shingles vaccine. You might be trying to decide if it’s worth getting—and wondering how long protection from the shot lasts. Understanding more about the vaccine’s effectiveness, and its benefits, can help you make an informed decision about your health, in partnership with your health care provider.

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistery rash that develops when the varicella-zoster virus—the same virus that causes chickenpox—reactivates in your body. If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in your nerve tissue and can reactivate later in life, causing a shingles episode. The infamous shingles rash often resembles a single “stripe” of blisters that often wraps around the left or right side of the torso. Shingles can affect other parts of the body including the head and face.

The risk of shingles increases with age, especially after 50. Beyond causing an uncomfortable skin rash, shingles can lead to complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN is a condition characterized by severe nerve pain that lasts even after the rash has fully healed. Shingles in the eye can cause burning pain, redness, and sensitivity to light. In some cases it can lead to vision impairment, including blindness, if left untreated.

Shingrix—the only U.S. vaccine that protects against shingles

What’s the silver lining to all this shingles talk? There is a vaccine available to help prevent this condition and decrease the severity of symptoms if you do get it. The only shingles vaccine used today is Shingrix, approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It works by boosting your body’s natural immunity, reducing the chances of the varicella-zoster virus reactivating and causing the shingles rash.

Shingrix is considered a significant improvement over the older Zostavax vaccine, which is no longer available in the U.S. (Note: If you received a shingles vaccination before 2020, you received Zostavax).

For healthy adults age 50+, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of Shingrix separated by two to six months.

Some things to keep in mind when considering Shingrix:

• You don’t need to show a history of chickenpox to get the vaccine. That’s because many older adults who had chickenpox in childhood may not remember having it.
• You should get the Shingrix shot even if you were previously vaccinated with Zostavax.
• What if you’ve already had shingles? Even if you’ve suffered an episode previously, you can still benefit from getting vaccinated—since you can get shingles more than once.

What is the success rate of Shingrix?

Shingrix is highly effective, with protection lasting for several years. According to research reported by CDC, Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles in adults age 50 to 69 with healthy immune systems. In people age 70 and older, the vaccine was 91% effective.1 In adults with weakened immune systems, Shingrix was 68% to 91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on underlying medical conditions.¹

Zostavax, on the other hand, provided strong effectiveness against shingles in the first year (67%), but dropped to just 50% efficacy the second year.²

Is Shingrix good for a lifetime?

While Shingrix is highly effective, its protection may not last for your entire life. Immunity from the vaccine lessens over time, but it does so very gradually. Studies have shown that among people age 70 and older, Shingrix provides at least 85% protection against shingles for up to four years after completing the two-dose series,3 and remains high for at least seven years.³

Newer research offers even better news: Researchers followed clinical trial participants for several years after initial vaccination with Shingrix. They found the vaccine had nearly 80% efficacy in participants age 50 and older up to 11 years after vaccination.⁴

It’s important to remember there are a variety of factors that affect vaccine efficacy for each person, such as age and overall health. “All vaccines are most effective just after they have been given,” Linda Yancey, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, told Verywell Health.

There is no one answer to the question of how long a vaccine is effective. It is going to vary from person to person,” Yancey said.

Do you get a booster for the shingles vaccine?

How often do you need to repeat the shingles vaccine? Until further research suggests otherwise, older adults generally only need to get the two-dose Shingrix series once. No Shingrix vaccine booster is currently available. Recommendations and the availability of boosters could change as scientists learn more about how long protection from the shingles vaccine lasts.

Why is the shingles vaccine important for older adults?

For older adults, the shingles vaccine provides several critical benefits in addition to lasting protection:

1. Prevents a painful condition: The shingles rash can cause severe discomfort, with symptoms ranging from itching and burning to intense pain. This pain can last for months or even years, especially in cases of PHN, which is caused by damage to nerve fibers during an active shingles infection. PHN affects roughly 10% to 18% of people who have shingles.5 Shingles pain often requires the use of over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers, which can be a concern for some older adults with other health conditions, leading to drug interactions and side effects. Also pain can impact our ability to carry out daily activities and impact our quality of life.
2. Decreases the chances of shingles spreading: Is shingles contagious? While the illness itself is not contagious in the same way a cold or the flu is, the virus that causes shingles is transmissible. Someone with shingles can spread the virus that causes shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox or has never vaccinated against chickenpox. Getting vaccinated is the only way to reduce your risk of developing shingles.
3. Reduces the risk of other complications: In addition to long-term nerve pain from PHN, complications from shingles can include skin scarring and vision problems (if the rash occurs near the eyes). Shingles can also lead to serious infections in rare cases, which may require hospitalization.
4. Minimal side effects: FDA-approved Shingrix is well-tested and shown to be safe, with few side effects reported. Common side effects of the shingles shot may include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, or mild flu-like symptoms for a day or two after vaccination.

The benefits of the shingles vaccine far outweigh the minimal risks for older adults. Plus, unlike an annual flu or COVID vaccine, a two-dose Shingrix shot offers solid protection that can last a good decade or more.

“While you might have a some soreness or feel a bit tired after the shot, like I did when I received my shingles shots this year, that's a small trade-off compared to the discomfort and complications shingles can cause,” said Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging. “It’s well worth being able to enjoy your later years without the constant worry of shingles hanging over you.”

Where can I get the shingles vaccine?

Shingrix is widely available in doctor's offices and pharmacies. It's covered by most private health insurance plans as well as Medicare and Medicaid. To find a shingles vaccine provider near you, visit Vaccines.gov.

Sources

1. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Shingles (Herpes Zoster) - Shingles Vaccination. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html

2. Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. Study confirms significant waning of original shingles vaccine over 10 years. November 8, 2023. Found on the internet at https://divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org/blog/2023/11/08/waning-original-shingles-vaccine/

3. Immunize.org. Ask the Experts - Zoster (Shingles). Found on the internet at https://www.immunize.org/ask-experts/topic/zoster/

4. GSK. New long-term data show Shingrix continues to provide high protection against shingles in adults aged 50 and over for more than a decade. April 17, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/new-long-term-data-show-shingrix-continues-to-provide-high-protection-against-shingles-in-adults-aged-50-and-over-for-more-than-a-decade/

5. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Shingles (Herpes Zoster) - Shingles Symptoms and Complications. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html