Shingle Vaccine - Booster Needed?

Shingles is a very painful reactivation of dormant chicken pox virus that can affect 10% or more of the population. If not immediately treated it can lead to chronic severe pain in up to half affected individuals. It is VERY often missed by physicians early on!

Since most of us have had chicken pox we are all at risk. we do not know if the vaccine that is currently given children will prevent this.

Being more common and severe in older people (as one of those I avoid the word elderly now!) the CDC (and I) recommend getting the shingles vaccine which lowers (but does not entirely remove) the risk.

Now a new study asks how long does this effect last? Unfortunately by 10 years the vaccine had lost most of its efficacy; and the incidence of shingles in vaccinated individuals was about the same as non-vaccinated.

I often get asked if having shingles once means that the vaccine is not needed. The disease itself does result in better antibody levels that the vaccine, but these also will likely wane after 7-10 years. So my advice would be yes, get the vaccine, but in about 5-7 years after the outbreak.

Expect a recommendation for a booster in about 7 years if these findings are confirmed. The drug company will be very happy!