Shingles Vaccination―Shingrix vs Zostavax

In 2017, shingles vaccination had been brought back to the front page:

New Shingles Vaccine Shows Efficacy for Older Adults

Basically, the excitements were all about the new shingles vaccine named Shingrix:

In October 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the Shingrix® vaccine for adults aged 50 years and older to prevent shingles. The CDC recommends two doses of Shingrix, two to six months apart for healthy adults aged 50 and older.

On Oct. 25, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted that Shingrix is the preferred vaccine for preventing shingles and related complications. It is also recommended for adults who previously received the current shingles vaccine (Zostavax®).

 

Why Older Adults Need to Get Vaccinated?

Before widespread use of the chickenpox vaccine, parents regularly updated their own immunity by getting exposed chickenpox from their children, or from other adults who were exposed by children. But, now that most children are vaccinated against chickenpox and don't contract it, older adults suffer from more severe cases of shingles.^[6]

Shingrix® vs Zostavax®

The previously released vaccine, Zostavax®, reduces the risk of shingles by over 50 percent. The now-preferred Shingrix vaccine series reduces the risk by over 90 percent.^[4]

• Zostavax
• Is a live vaccine given as a single injection, usually in the upper arm
• Approved in 2006 and is no longer being sold in the U.S. as of July 2020, other countries may still use it
• Has been shown to offer protection against shingles for about five years.
• Although Zostavax is approved for people age 50 and older, CDC recommends that Zostavax be given at age 60, when the risk of shingles and its complications is highest.
• Shingrix
• Is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. It's given in two doses, with two to six months between doses.
• Approved in 2017 
• Studies suggest protection against shingles with Shingrix may extend beyond five years.
• Recommended for people age 50 and older, including those who've previously received Zostavax.

Note that elderly individuals do not respond to immune challenge as robustly as the young.^[3]

What If You Already Had Zostavax®?

For those who have received Zostavax, the CDC recommends waiting at least eight weeks before getting Shingrix.

Scheduled two to six months apart, Shingrix is given as a series of two shots.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness, pain, tenderness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and headaches.

Some people report a chickenpox-like rash after getting the shingles vaccine.

Although some people will develop shingles despite vaccination, the vaccine may reduce the severity and duration of it.

Precautions

As always, all vaccines could have possible side effects and might not be good for all adults.  Using current  shingles vaccine (Zostavax®) as an example, you can find those information in the "Vaccine Consent and Administration Record" of the attached form.

For more details on other precautions,  please read the below article:

Shingles and Its Remedies

References

1. New Shingles Vaccine Shows Efficacy for Older Adults
2. Shingles and Its Remedies
3. Causes, consequences, and reversal of immune system aging
4. Is the New Shingles Vaccine Really Worthwhile?
5. Shingles vaccine: Should I get it?
6. Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2021
7. Slow the Spread? Speeding It May Be Safer by Vivek Ramaswamy And Apoorva Ramaswamy
8. Slide show: Common skin rashes
9. Shingles associated with increased risk for stroke, heart attack