Shingles Vaccine

________________________________________________________________________

KEY POINTS

• Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. This illness is most common in people over 50 years old.
• The shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults 60 and older and is given 1 time as a shot under the skin.
• Check with your healthcare provider before getting the shot if you have questions.

________________________________________________________________________

What is the shingles vaccine?

The shingles vaccine can help keep you from getting shingles. Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body but it is inactive. The virus can become active again at any time in your life and cause shingles.

Shingles is also called herpes zoster. This illness is most common in people over 50 years old.

The shingles vaccine does not always prevent shingles. However, if you do get shingles after you got the shot, you may have a milder case and less pain. The shingles vaccine is not used to treat shingles once you have it.

Who should have the shot?

The shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults 60 and older regardless of whether they remember having had chicken pox or not. It is given one time as a shot under the skin, usually in the upper arm. Check with your healthcare provider before getting the shot if you:

• Are seriously ill or have a fever
• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Have had a severe reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic medicine called neomycin, or an allergic reaction to the other vaccines
• Have a medical condition that lowers your ability to fight infections, such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, or some cancer treatments, or are taking steroids

People who have had shingles can get the vaccine to help prevent getting shingles again in the future.

What are possible side effects?

After getting this shot you may have redness, soreness, or swelling in the area where you had the shot. This usually lasts just a day or two. You cannot get shingles from the shot. You may get a headache though it is less common.

Some people who get the shingles vaccine get a rash near the place where they go the shot. The rash may look like chicken pox. If you have a rash, cover it until it goes away.

What else should I know about the shingles vaccine?

It takes 2 to 3 weeks after you get the shot before you are protected from getting sick.

You can get the shingles vaccine at your healthcare provider's office, at your local pharmacy, or at most local health departments. Check with your healthcare provider about other shots you may need.