About 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will get shingles in their lifetime. While anyone can get it, your risk increases with age or if your immune system is weakened by illness or treatment.
Contributed by Kellie Krueger, PharmD, RPh
If you’re over 50 and haven’t gotten the shingles vaccine, now’s the time. It’s safe, highly effective and your best defense against this painful virus. Find out where to get vaccinated today.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox — varicella zoster —which can remain quiet in your nerves for years. “I like to say that when your immune system isn’t ‘paying attention,’ the chicken pox virus pops its head back out and causes shingles,” says Kellie Krueger, a pharmacist at MetroHealth’s Old Brooklyn Medical Center.
What does shingles look and feel like?
Shingles starts with pain, then a rash develops. This could be anywhere on your body, but it’s often just on one side, and it typically appears in a band or belt (“shingles” comes from the Latin word for “belt”). It’s usually red and blistery and sometimes causes nerve pain. Though it eventually goes away for most people, in others it may lead to serious complications, like vision loss and skin infections.
The shingles vaccine is your best defense against the virus “waking up” in your body. While no vaccine is 100% effective, this one significantly reduces your risk. And if you do get shingles, symptoms are usually milder and complications less likely.
Who should get the shingles vaccine?
About 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will get shingles in their lifetime. While anyone can get it, your risk increases with age or if your immune system is weakened by illness or treatment.
The shingles vaccine is recommended for:
- Adults age 50 and older, regardless of whether they’ve had shingles or chickenpox.
- Adults age 19 and older with weakened immune systems due to disease or therapy.
You should get vaccinated even if:
- You’ve had shingles before (just wait until the rash clears).
- You’ve received the older Zostavax vaccine (which is no longer used).
- You’re unsure if you had chickenpox — most adults born before 1980 likely did.
- The vaccine is given in two doses, ideally 2 to 6 months apart. If more than 6 months pass between doses, you don’t need to restart the series — just get the second shot as soon as possible.
Who should wait to get vaccinated?
- People who are pregnant.
- Anyone experiencing an active shingles outbreak.
- Those with a moderate or severe illness (especially with fever) should wait until they recover.
- Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, including a sore arm, fatigue, body aches, and low-grade fever. These typically resolve in a few days.
You have the power to prevent shingles. Take the first step today.
You can get your shingles vaccine at any MetroHealth pharmacy. While you can make an appointment through MyChart, you don’t have to; walk-ins are welcome.
