HERPES ZOSTER VACCINATION (SHINGLES)
It can occur at any time, with no warning. Will it be you?
99% of people over 50 years of age are living with the virus that causes shingles and 1 in 3 people will experience shingles.
For most people, the pain from shingles begins as a painful, blistering rash that can last several weeks. However, the effects can last for months or even years.
Shingles is a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and clears up within 2 to 4 weeks. Some people describe the pain as an intense burning sensation. This long-lasting pain is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and it is the most common complication of shingles. Your risk of getting shingles and PHN increases as you get older.
A recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) has been used since 2017, and is recommended as the preferred shingles vaccine. Shingrix should be administered to adults age 50 years and older as a two-dose series (0.5 ml each), 2 to 6 months apart (0, 2-6 months). Vaccination is more than 90% effective.
WHO SHOULD GET THE VACCINE
Are you on the list?
You should get vaccinated even if in the past you:
had shingles
received Zostavax
are not sure if you had chickenpox
There is no maximum age for getting vaccinated.
The CDC recommends that even if you had Zostavax in the past, you should still get Shingrix, as it reduces the risk of shingles and PHN by more than 90% in people 50 and older.
THE IMPORTANCE OF 2 SHOTS
2 TO 6 MONTH INTERVAL
SHINGRIX is given as a 2-dose series, with the second shot administered 2 to 6 months after the first shot. To ensure you get the protection against shingles offered by SHINGRIX, it's important to get both shots.
VACCINATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT AGAINST SHINGLES
Let's Get You Covered
Even the healthiest lifestyle can’t stop your immune system from declining as you age. If you want protection against shingles, it takes more than that.
If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is already inside your body waiting to reactivate.