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Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles?

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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

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Get a shingles shot.

Don't get a shingles shot.

Key points to remember

Shingles can be very painful, especially for people older than 60, in whom it is more common.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the shingles shot (vaccine). Most adults ages 50 and older can get the shot.

The shot greatly lowers your chances of getting shingles. If you get shingles anyway, you are less likely to have the long-term pain that can occur after shingles than if you hadn't had the shot.

You shouldn't get the shot if you are pregnant or have a weak immune system.

If you’ve already had shingles, you are not likely to get it again. But some people do.

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Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles?

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Last Revised: May 27, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology

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Side effects include:

Redness, swelling, or soreness at the spot where the needle went in.

A headache.

A high fever or serious allergic reaction (but this is rare).

Getting the shot has some risks. For example:

You might get shingles anyway. But it probably won't be as painful or last as long.

You may need another shot later in life. Doctors don't know how long the shot lasts.

You shouldn't get the shot if:

You have a weak immune system.

You are ill with more than a mild cold. This includes having a fever of 101.3°F (38.5°C) or higher.

You are allergic to gelatin or neomycin, which are ingredients in the shingles vaccine. Neomycin is an antibiotic that is used in first-aid ointments such as Neosporin, in some eye drops, and in certain underarm deodorants.

You are pregnant or you might be pregnant.

Some people worry about the preservatives used in some vaccines. The shingles vaccine does not contain any preservatives.

What is shingles?

What are your chances of getting shingles?

How well does the shot work?

What are the risks and side effects of the shingles shot?

Why might your doctor recommend that you get a shingles shot?

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Page 2 of 3Shingles: Should I Get a Shot to Prevent Shingles? - Disease and Injury Prevention

12/28/2013http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-center/shingles-should-i-get-a-shot-to-prevent-shi...