How often should you get shingles shots

However, there is often some confusion around this immunization, centering around who should receive the vaccine and how often it should be administered. We’ll break down important facts about shingles and the vaccine so you can be prepared to make an informed choice.

Important Facts About Shingles

The virus that causes shingles is the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is the same one that causes chickenpox. After someone recovers from chickenpox and the rash goes away, the VZV virus still remains in the body. It stays dormant, but it is possible for it to reactivate later in a person’s life, which is what causes shingles.

Can You Get Shingles More Than Once?

While you can get shingles more than once in your life, most people only have one episode.

Is Shingles Contagious?

If you have shingles, then you have an active VZV virus, and you can spread this virus to those who have never had chickenpox before (or who have never been vaccinated for chickenpox). However, this spread is only through direct contact, so you can help reduce the spread of shingles by covering the rash. In addition, those with singles cannot spread the virus before the rash appears.

If someone is infected after coming in contact with the shingles virus, they will develop chickenpox, not shingles.

What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?

The most obvious sign is a telltale rash that typically manifests itself as a stripe around the left or right side of the body. Occasionally, the rash may appear on the face, and it may be more widespread on those with weakened immune systems.

Other shingles symptoms include:

• An itchy, tingling feeling in the area where the rash will develop
• Headaches
• Chills
• Upset stomach
• Fever

Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine?

We recommend that if you’re 50 years old or older, you should get the vaccine—regardless of whether or not you remember having chickenpox because 99 percent of adults 40 and older have had chickenpox, although some may not remember having the disease, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control.

If you’ve already had shingles, getting the vaccine can help you prevent getting the disease again in the future, although you should wait to be sure your shingles rash has disappeared completely before getting the vaccine.

The vaccine does not guarantee that you’ll never get shingles, but it can reduce the severity of it if you get it.

Are There Side Effects to the Shingles Vaccine?

Some people may get a small, temporary rash similar to chickenpox after getting the shot or even a slight headache. However, the most common side effect is a very mild tenderness, swelling or itching at the site.

How Often Do You Need to Get the Shingles Vaccine?

You will need two doses of the vaccine that are given two to six months apart.  While the shingles vaccine gradually becomes less protective over the first five to eight years, a shingles booster has not been approved yet.

Who Should Not Get a Shingles Vaccine?

If your immune system is weakened for any reason, or if you have tuberculosis, you should not get a shingles vaccine. It’s also not recommended if you’re getting radiation or chemotherapy, or if you’ve had leukemia or lymphoma.

Those who are pregnant should not receive the shingles vaccine, and women should not plan on conceiving for at least three months after receiving the shot.

Some people may be allergic to some of the ingredients in the vaccine, such as gelatin. If you’re not sure, or if you have any concerns, just speak with us. We’ll be glad to provide details to help you make the right decision.

Who Is at Risk of Getting Shingles?

If you have had chickenpox, you’re at risk for developing shingles and this risk increases substantially as you age, with shingles being the most common in those who are more than 50 years old.

If your immune system is suppressed because of disease, cancer treatment, or immunosuppressive drugs, you are also at a higher risk for developing shingles.

Raleigh Adult Medicine Offers the Shingles Vaccine and Other Immunizations

As internal medicine doctors in Raleigh, we believe that prevention is an important element of staying healthy, and a key element is getting the appropriate vaccine.

In addition to the shingles vaccine, we also offer immunizations for:

● The flu

● HPV

● Pneumonia

● Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)

● Hepatitis A

● Hepatitis B

If you need one of these vaccines, or if you aren’t sure whether or not one is appropriate for you, please schedule an appointment with us. We’ll take a closer look at your overall health and provide recommendations to help you.

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