The Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Updated on April 8, 2026
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Shingles Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Learn about shingles and the importance of the Shingrix vaccine.
Shingles (herpes zoster), a disease caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, varicella zoster, affects about 1 in 3 people in their lifetimes. Symptoms, including a painful, blistering rash, typically subside after about 10 days, but up to 1 in 5 people experience postherpetic neuralgia (long-term nerve pain) for months or even years. Shingles can also affect the eyes, causing burning and redness and, in rare cases, blindness.
But there is an effective way to prevent shingles: the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix), that requires two injections in the upper arm, given between two and six months apart. Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against this painful and possibly debilitating illness.
Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine?
The body’s immune system declines with age, which puts older adults at increased risk for shingles. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all people 50 and older who live in a country where shingles is a concern, such as the United States, get the shingles vaccine, even if they:
- Had shingles in the past (it’s possible to get shingles more than once)
- Received the old live zoster vaccine (Zostavax), which the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) replaced
The WHO also recommends that adults (18 and older) get the shingles vaccine if they have a weakened immune system — either from a condition like cancer or HIV or from certain medications that make them more vulnerable to shingles.
Anyone younger than 50 will need a doctor’s prescription to get the shingles vaccine.
Who Shouldn’t Get the Shingles Vaccine?
The shingles vaccine is not recommended for people who:
- Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine
- Currently have shingles
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
As previously mentioned, chicken pox, like shingles, is caused by the varicella zoster virus. After a person has chicken pox, the virus can live quietly in the nervous system for decades until it’s reactivated, causing shingles. More than 95 percent of adults over age 50 are positive for the varicella zoster virus.
People with moderate or severe illness should hold off on getting the shingles vaccine until they’ve recovered. When in doubt, check with your doctor.
How Well Does the Shingles Vaccine Work?
According to research, the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) is 97 percent effective at preventing shingles in adults 50 to 69 years old, and 91 percent effective in adults over 70.
For the small percentage of people who get shingles even after vaccination, the vaccine may reduce the severity and length of symptoms. In these “breakthrough” cases, it’s 91 percent effective at preventing postherpetic neuralgia for people 50 to 69, and 89 percent effective for people 70 and older. Research on the vaccine shows that protection against shingles remains high for up to 11 years after vaccination. Boosters are not currently recommended, though that could change as research clarifies how long the vaccine’s protection lasts.
Is the Shingles Vaccine Safe?
Studies have shown the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) to be safe. As with any vaccine, there is a small chance of severe allergic reaction to it. If you experience any of the following, call 911 or go to the ER:
- Hives
- Swelling of the face or throat
- Dizziness or weakness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
In very rare cases, people have developed a serious nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), after getting the vaccine, though the risk of GBS is much higher if you’re naturally infected with shingles.
What Are Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine?
You may experience side effects after the shingles vaccines, either after the first dose, second dose, or both. These might include:
- A sore arm, or redness or swelling at the injection site
- Headache, fever, or muscle pain
- Tiredness
- Abdominal pain or nausea
- Chills and shivering
For most people these issues are mild, but some people will experience side effects that make daily activities difficult. Symptoms typically go away in about one to three days and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You should still get the second shot even if you experience side effects with the first.
Can the Shingles Vaccine Give You Shingles?
There is little evidence that the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) can give you shingles by reactivating the varicella zoster virus. Clinical trials that included nearly 30,000 people showed no viral reactivation after immunization, though several case reports indicate it may be possible in extremely rare cases.
Remember that no vaccine is 100 percent effective, and in a small number of cases people may develop shingles even if they are vaccinated. The authors of one case report note that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk of a natural shingles infection.
What’s the Difference Between Shingrix and Zostavax?
The recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) only uses parts of the virus that can’t infect you, while the zoster vaccine live (Zostavax) relies on a weakened form of the live virus.
The zoster vaccine live (Zostavax) was discontinued in the United States in 2020, largely because of quickly waning effectiveness. If you received the live vaccine in the past, you should get vaccinated again with the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix).
What Does the Shingles Vaccine Cost?
Most people with either private or public health insurance coverage should be able to get the shingles vaccine at no cost. The recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) is fully covered under Medicare Part D, and most private insurers fully cover it as well.
That’s because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans to cover all vaccines, including this one, that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with no out-of-pocket costs.
Those without any insurance coverage will have to pay out of pocket or use the manufacturer’s assistance program, and the costs may vary. GSK, the manufacturer of Shingrix, lists the out-of-pocket cost for each of the two doses at $234.69.
Where to Get a Shingles Vaccine
The recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) is available at most pharmacies, and a doctor’s prescription is not necessary if you are eligible, though an appointment might be required. If you’re not sure, this locator will help you find a pharmacy.
It’s important to return two to six months after your first dose to get your second dose. If you have a weakened immune system, you can get the second dose as soon as one month after the first dose. It is important to get both doses for complete protection.
The Takeaway
- Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus that causes chicken pox, and up to 1 in 5 people who get it develop a complication called postherpetic neuralgia that causes nerve pain lasting months or years.
- The recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) to prevent shingles is safe and effective, with side effects that are generally minimal and temporary, if they show up at all.
- Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), just about everyone with private or public health insurance coverage can get the vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Shingles Vaccine
- Mayo Clinic: Shingles Overview
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Shingles Vaccines
- Mount Sinai Health Systems: Infectious Diseases
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital: What You Need to Know About Shingles
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- WHO Position Paper on Herpes Zoster Vaccines – July 2025. World Health Organization. July 2025.
- Shingles. Cleveland Clinic. December 11, 2024.
- Shingles Vaccine. Cleveland Clinic. April 25, 2025.
- Wang Y et al. Evaluation of the Immunological Efficacy of an LNP-mRNA Vaccine Prepared from Varicella Zoster Virus Glycoprotein gE with a Double-Mutated Carboxyl Terminus in Different Untranslated Regions in Mice. Vaccines. September 11, 2023.
- Understanding Shingles: How the Shingles Vaccine Can Help Prevent Lingering Pain and Provide Relief. Medical University of South Carolina. May 17, 2024.
- Oleszko M et al. Herpes Zoster Vaccination: Insights into Efficacy, Safety, and Guidelines. Vaccines. April 28, 2025.
- Shingles Vaccine. Baptist Health.
- How Long Does the Shingles Vaccine Last? National Council on Aging. September 26, 2025.
- Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine. NHS Inform. February 12, 2026.
- Altukhaim F et al. Reactivation of Herpes Zoster After Recombinant Vaccine (Shingrix): A Case Report. Cureus. January 31, 2023.
- Satow K et al. Herpes Zoster Induced by the Shingrix Vaccine: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus. January 29, 2026.
- Zeevaert R et al. Efficacy and Safety of the Recombinant Zoster Vaccine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Vaccine: X. December 2023.
- Cost & Coverage. Shingrix. January 2024.
- Kates J. ACIP, CDC, and Insurance Coverage of Vaccines in the United States. KFF. June 13, 2025.
- GSK Pricing Information for Shingrix. GSK for You. January 1, 2026.
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