Adults 50+ Should Get 2 Shingles Shots, Even After Shingles
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says adults 50 and older should get the shingles vaccine (Shingrix), given as 2 doses 2 to 6 months apart; people who previously had shingles, received the older Zostavax vaccine, or received the chickenpox vaccine should also get it. CDC also says vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles, and it is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in adults 50 and older with healthy immune systems.
CDC says about 1 in every 3 people in the United States will have shingles in their lifetime, and the risk increases with age; adults 19 and older with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications and should also get vaccinated. This article follows CDC's shingles vaccination page: who should get it, who should wait, how well it works, side effects, and where to get it and cost. Everyone's health is different; if you have questions, ask your health care provider.
Who should get it
CDC explains (CDC, Shingles Vaccination):
- Ages 50 and older: 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart; there is no maximum age.
- Ages 19 and older with weakened immunity: Adults with immune systems weakened by disease or therapy get 2 doses; if needed, the second dose can be given 1 to 2 months after the first.
- Had shingles before: You should still get it, and it can help prevent shingles from coming back; there is no specific waiting time after shingles, but generally wait until the rash has gone away.
- Don't remember chickenpox: You can get it whether or not you remember having chickenpox; CDC says more than 99% of Americans born on or before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they don't remember.
- Had an older vaccine: People who received Zostavax or the chickenpox vaccine should also get it; Zostavax has not been available in the U.S. since November 18, 2020, and people who had it should talk with their provider about when to get Shingrix.
- How it's given: A doctor or pharmacist gives it as a shot in the upper arm; it may be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Who should wait
- Should not get it: Anyone who had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix, anyone who currently has shingles, and anyone who is currently pregnant (should wait).
- When sick: You can still get it with a minor illness like a cold; with a moderate or severe illness, with or without fever, you should wait until you recover.
- Weakened immunity with no records: Adults with weakened immune systems and no documented history of chickenpox, chickenpox vaccination or shingles should talk to their provider.
How well it works
- Preventing shingles: 97% effective in healthy adults 50 to 69, and 91% in adults 70 and older.
- Preventing postherpetic neuralgia: 91% in adults 50 and older, and 89% in adults 70 and older. Postherpetic neuralgia, the most common shingles complication, is long-term nerve pain that can last months or years after the rash goes away.
- Weakened immunity: Between 68% and 91% effective at preventing shingles, depending on the condition affecting the immune system.
- How long it lasts: In healthy adults 70 and older, immunity stayed high for at least 7 years after vaccination.
Side effects
- Common: A sore arm with mild or moderate pain, redness and swelling at the shot site; tiredness, muscle pain, headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain and nausea. These usually go away in 2 to 3 days and may temporarily keep you from regular activities; they were more common in younger people.
- Still get dose 2: You should still get the second dose even if you had these reactions after the first.
- Pain relief: You may take over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen; CDC says the pain for a few days will be less severe than the pain from shingles and its complications.
- Rare: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported very rarely after Shingrix; there is also a very small increased risk of GBS after having shingles.
- Not improving: Contact your provider if symptoms aren't improving or are getting worse; side effects can be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) online or at 1-800-822-7967.
Where to get it and cost
- Where: Shingrix is available at doctor's offices and pharmacies.
- Medicare: Starting in 2023, people with Medicare Part D pay nothing out of pocket for Shingrix.
- Medicaid: Medicaid may or may not cover it; contact your insurer.
- Private insurance: Many plans cover it, but there may be a cost depending on your plan; contact your insurer.
- No insurance: Some drug companies provide vaccines to eligible adults who can't afford them; you can check with GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Shingrix.
For where to find adult vaccination records, see No National Vaccine Record Database, Ask Your State Registry; for asking a pharmacist at the pharmacy, see Ask the Pharmacist First, on Choosing and Using OTC Medicine; for other vaccines to get before visiting Taiwan, see Visiting Taiwan? See a Doctor a Month Out; Hep A, B Advised.
What this article did not check
- Shingles symptoms: CDC has a separate symptoms and complications page; this article did not check it.
- Your insurance coverage: Ask your insurer; this article did not check it.
- Drug company assistance eligibility: The page doesn't say, so this article doesn't cover it.
FAQ
I've had shingles. Should I still get the vaccine?
It's recommended. CDC says you should get Shingrix even if you've had shingles, and it can help prevent it from coming back; generally wait until the rash has gone away.
How far apart are the 2 doses?
CDC says 2 to 6 months apart for adults 50 and older; for adults 19 and older with weakened immunity, the second dose can be given 1 to 2 months after the first if needed.
I had a strong reaction to dose 1. Should I still get dose 2?
CDC says you should still get the second dose even if you had these reactions; side effects usually go away in 2 to 3 days.
Do I pay anything with Medicare?
CDC says that starting in 2023, people with Medicare Part D pay nothing out of pocket for Shingrix.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-02.
- CDC, Shingles Vaccination (page dated 2025-08-19):https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccines/index.html