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Is the Vaccine for Shingles Safe?

The vaccination used for shingles has been approved and recommended by the Food and Drug Administration for use in adults who are 60 years or over in age. It employs a live virus, and may cause a mild shingles outbreak; people who experience this may spread varicella-zoster virus to people who have never had the chickenpox. It is also not recommended for all adults, especially ones who are immunocompromised. However, its benefits generally outweigh its risks for most adults.

  1. Recommendations

    • The shingles vaccine is recommended for use in adults over the age of 60. There is also no upper age limit for the vaccine; it can be safely used even in older people and those who have already had shingles (to decrease their chances of recurrence). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that further research may indicate that the recommended age for vaccination may even be reduced to 50 in the future, as this is when one's chances of developing shingles begin to increase.

    Counterindications

    • There are several groups of people who should not be vaccinated against shingles. This includes people who for almost any reason have a weakened immune system, such as HIV-positive people or those who are on immunosuppressive therapy or have another condition which weakens the immune system. People undergoing chemo, radiation or steroid treatment should not be vaccinated against shingles, according to the Mayo Clinic; other groups include people with a serious allergy to gelatin, those who have had bone or lymph cancer and people with active tuberculosis.

    Risks

    • Some people develop a mild shingles rash after being vaccinated because the vaccine uses a live virus. According to James M. Steckelberg, MD, this rash could pose a risk of transmitting the varicella-zoster virus to those who have not already developed chickenpox, though he notes that this is mostly a concern in theory; the CDC notes that there are no documented cases of this type of transmission of VZV.

    Side Effects

    • The side effects of the vaccine are generally mild. They include, according to the CDC, a local reaction at the site of injection which may include redness, soreness and itching as well as headache.

    Benefits

    • The shingles vaccine may not prevent a given individual from developing an active case of shingles. However, the Mayo Clinic reports that vaccination can decrease both the duration and severity of symptoms during an outbreak; the CDC additionally reports that being vaccinated may cut the risk of developing shingles by up to half while also significantly decreasing one's chances of developing postherpetic neuralgia, a condition in which the pain of shingles remains after the rash has gone away.

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