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Shingles Vaccine Guidelines

The shingles vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is recommended for use in older adults, as one's chances of developing shingles increase with age. There are several groups of people who should not be vaccinated for shingles, mostly those whose immune systems have been compromised due to illness or medical treatment. Although vaccination against shingles will not necessarily prevent one from developing the condition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that it reduces the chances of outbreak by half or more and also greatly reduce the chances of developing postherpetic neuralgia, a condition in which the pain of shingles remains after the outbreak has cleared.

  1. Age

    • The shingles vaccine is recommended for people over the age of 60; there is no upper age limit for vaccination. The CDC reports that future research may lead to a change in this recommendation, lowering the recommended age to 50; this is the age at which one's chances of having a shingles outbreak begin to increase.

    Immunocompromised People

    • People whose immune systems have been compromised by illness, such as HIV, or because of medicinal treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy and steroids, should not be vaccinated for shingles. This also includes those who have had bone, blood and lymph cancers. This is because the vaccine uses a live virus and could trigger an infection, which is particularly dangerous in immuno-compromised people.

    Allergies

    • According to James M. Steckelberg, MD, people who have allergies to components of the shingles vaccine should not be vaccinated. This includes people with allergies to gelatin and neomycin.

    Pregant Women

    • Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should not be vaccinated against shingles. Steckelberg reports that those who are vaccinated and develop a rash as a result should avoid contact with pregnant women and those who have not yet had chickenpox. Primary infection with VZV, the virus that causes shingles, during pregnancy can lead to birth defects and other health concerns.

    After Shingles

    • The shingles vaccine can be used even after an individual has already had an outbreak of shingles. The use of the vaccine at this point may reduce the chances of recurrence; this is rare, but increasingly common with advancing age.

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