Shingrix, also known as the recombinant zoster vaccine or the shingles vaccine, is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for adults 50 and older.
People should be getting two doses of the vaccine at least one month apart.
The vaccine normally provides strong protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia, which is one of the major complications of shingles.
People can get the shingles vaccine even if they have had shingles in the past or have received the zoster or chickenpox vaccine in the past.
There is no maximum age for getting the shingles vaccine.
There is no specific amount of time that a person has to wait after they have had shingles to receive the vaccine, but the main concern is that it should be made sure that the person does not have the shingles rash before they get vaccinated.
The only time you should not get the shingles vaccine is if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine in the past, if you currently have shingles or if you are currently pregnant.
You may still receive the vaccine even if you have had any minor illnesses such as a cold, cough, sore throat or any kind of upper respiratory tract infection.
Possible side effects of the shingles vaccine may include a sore arm after receiving the vaccine, some feeling of tiredness, muscle pain, headache or a mild fever. Symptoms usually go away within two to three days. The Zostavax live vaccine is another type of shingles vaccine but is no longer available in the U.S., and the only currently available vaccine is Shingrix.
Anyone who would like to ask me a medical question relating to the health of older adults can email me at questions@apexmedicalgroup.org. I hope to provide a helpful answer in a future issue of this newspaper.
Disclaimer: The information shared in this column is based on current practice guidelines but is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
Dr. Arvindselvan Mohanaselvan, M.D., is a physician board certified in internal medicine, with a subspecialty in geriatrics. He currently works at Apex Medical Group as a primary care and geriatric medicine provider. Email questions for Paging the Doctor on Call to questions@apexmedicalgroup.org.
