Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConnectionTypesRisksContraindicationsWhy It’s ImportantFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Connection

Types

Risks

Contraindications

Why It’s Important

Frequently Asked Questions

Though about 1 out of every 3 people will developshinglesin their lifetime, people diagnosed with cancer are at a higher risk for developing the condition and related complications.The main reason for this is because cancer and its treatments can compromise yourimmune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight off infections.

Read on to learn more about the relationship between cancer and shingles, and the shingles vaccine’s safety and effectiveness for people living with cancer.

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Older person receiving vaccine injection from healthcare provider

People diagnosed withlung cancerand other solid tumor cancers (such asbreast,colon, and rectal cancers) are at a higher risk for developing shingles.

More specifically, the highest risk for shingles in people with solid tumor cancers includes those who:

The risk of developing shingles is also higher in people with blood-related cancers.

Both cancer and cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, impact your immune system and reduce your ability to fight off infections.

How Common Is Shingles in Cancer Patients?In a 2019 study of 240,000 people, people diagnosed with cancer had a 40% higher risk of developing shingles than those who did not have a cancer diagnosis.When compared to the general population, people with cancer are two to four times more likely to develop shingles.

How Common Is Shingles in Cancer Patients?

In a 2019 study of 240,000 people, people diagnosed with cancer had a 40% higher risk of developing shingles than those who did not have a cancer diagnosis.When compared to the general population, people with cancer are two to four times more likely to develop shingles.

Types of Shingles Vaccines

Two types of shingles vaccines were previously available in the United States:ZostavaxandShingrix. Zostavax is no longer available for use. This newer shingles vaccine,Shingrix, was made available in 2017.

Shingrix is arecombinantvaccine containing a component of the virus that allows for a strong immune response.The vaccine is recommended for use in people aged 50 and older.

Shingrix is administered in a two-dose series. The second dose is administered two to six months after the first.

Because the vaccine does not contain a live, weakened virus, it’s suitable and recommended for people who have compromised immune systems.

Recommended Shingles VaccineShingrix, a recombinant vaccine, is the currently recommended shingles vaccine. The live-attenuated shingles vaccine, Zostavax, is no longer used or recommended. Shingrix is recommended even for people who are immunocompromised or previously had the Zostavax vaccine.

Shingrix, a recombinant vaccine, is the currently recommended shingles vaccine. The live-attenuated shingles vaccine, Zostavax, is no longer used or recommended. Shingrix is recommended even for people who are immunocompromised or previously had the Zostavax vaccine.

Shingles Vaccine Risks

There are a few risks associated with receiving the shingles vaccine. Pain, soreness, and swelling where you get the shot in your arm is possible.

Some additionalside effectsare possible after the first or second dose, which can include:

These typically go away on their own in two to three days. Younger people are more likely to experience side effects.

Fainting is possible after receiving the vaccine, as it is with any vaccine. The risk of developingGuillan-Barre syndromeis also increased after getting Shingrix.

Serious side effects are uncommon. Allergic reactions are possible and are also rare. Clinical trials found that no more than two people out of every 1 million had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Severe Side Effects From the Shingles VaccineSeek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know experiences severe side effects after receiving the shingles vaccine. Severe allergic reaction symptoms may include:HivesFacial or throat swellingTrouble breathingFast heartbeatFeeling weak or dizzy

Severe Side Effects From the Shingles Vaccine

Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know experiences severe side effects after receiving the shingles vaccine. Severe allergic reaction symptoms may include:HivesFacial or throat swellingTrouble breathingFast heartbeatFeeling weak or dizzy

Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know experiences severe side effects after receiving the shingles vaccine. Severe allergic reaction symptoms may include:

Shingles Vaccine Contraindications

The vaccine is not recommended for people who have a history of severe allergic reactions to any component of the shingles vaccine.

You are advised to delay getting the shingles vaccine if you are currently:

Why Is It Still Important for Cancer Patients to Receive the Shingles Vaccine?

People living with cancer and undergoing treatment for it are at a higher risk for developing shingles and complications.The recombinant shingles vaccine is both safe and effective for people with compromised immune systems, including cancer patients. Getting the vaccine will reduce the number of cases and reports of complications.

The timing of when you get the vaccine may be aligned with when your immune system is stronger.

For people with solid tumor cancers specifically, researchers have found that the vaccine produced an expected immune response, even in those who were undergoing chemotherapy. The immune response lasted even a year after getting the vaccine.

Summary

People living with and undergoing treatment for cancer are at an increased risk of developing shingles (herpes zoster) and related, serious complications. Getting the shingles vaccine is both safe and effective for people diagnosed with and being treated for cancer.

Shingrix is the currently recommended vaccine. It’s a two-dose vaccine that does not contain a live, weakened virus, as the previously-approved Zostavax shingles vaccine did.

Shingrix is approved for people ages 50 and older, including people who are immunocompromised. It’s over 90% effective at preventing shingles and related complications. Some short-term side effects include headache, pain or rash at injection site, fever, chills, and nausea. Severe side effects and allergic reactions are rare.

A Word From Verywell

Vaccines like Shingrix are powerful tools to reduce the risk of certain diseases. Better understanding a vaccine’s safety and effectiveness is critical to informed decision-making. If you have a compromised immune system, some vaccines may not be recommended. Others are safe and effective for people with cancer or who are immunocompromised.

Discuss the benefits and risks of the Shingrix vaccine with your healthcare provider. Given your current health status and history, they can help you determine if a particular vaccine is right for you.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Shingrix vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for immunocompromised people, including cancer patients.In clinical trials, the reported adverse events among immunocompromised people after receiving the shingles vaccine were no greater than those in the trials that received a placebo.Some short-term side effects have been reported, such as pain or rash at the injection site, headaches, fatigue, fever, chills, and nausea. These typically went away within two to three days.Some people may faint. Severe allergic reactions are rare. There is also a small risk of developingGuillain-Barre syndrome(a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s nerve cells).Learn MoreSide Effects of the Shingles VaccineThough the condition can be painful, it is rarely life-threatening itself. However, some of the complications of shingles can include blindness, hearing problems, brain inflammation, and death. People at risk for serious complications include those who are over the age of 50 or have compromised immune systems.Learn MoreCan You Die From Shingles?It is still possible to get shingles even if you’ve been vaccinated. No vaccine will completely prevent disease or be 100% effective. The effectiveness of the Shingrix vaccine is higher than 90% at reducing the risk of shingles and the most common complication, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

The Shingrix vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for immunocompromised people, including cancer patients.In clinical trials, the reported adverse events among immunocompromised people after receiving the shingles vaccine were no greater than those in the trials that received a placebo.

Some short-term side effects have been reported, such as pain or rash at the injection site, headaches, fatigue, fever, chills, and nausea. These typically went away within two to three days.Some people may faint. Severe allergic reactions are rare. There is also a small risk of developingGuillain-Barre syndrome(a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s nerve cells).Learn MoreSide Effects of the Shingles Vaccine

Some short-term side effects have been reported, such as pain or rash at the injection site, headaches, fatigue, fever, chills, and nausea. These typically went away within two to three days.Some people may faint. Severe allergic reactions are rare. There is also a small risk of developingGuillain-Barre syndrome(a condition where the immune system attacks the body’s nerve cells).

Learn MoreSide Effects of the Shingles Vaccine

Though the condition can be painful, it is rarely life-threatening itself. However, some of the complications of shingles can include blindness, hearing problems, brain inflammation, and death. People at risk for serious complications include those who are over the age of 50 or have compromised immune systems.Learn MoreCan You Die From Shingles?

Though the condition can be painful, it is rarely life-threatening itself. However, some of the complications of shingles can include blindness, hearing problems, brain inflammation, and death. People at risk for serious complications include those who are over the age of 50 or have compromised immune systems.

Learn MoreCan You Die From Shingles?

It is still possible to get shingles even if you’ve been vaccinated. No vaccine will completely prevent disease or be 100% effective. The effectiveness of the Shingrix vaccine is higher than 90% at reducing the risk of shingles and the most common complication, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Qian J, Heywood AE, Karki S, et al.Risk of herpes zoster prior to and following cancer diagnosis and treatment: a population-based prospective cohort study.Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2019;220(1):3-11. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiy625Yenikomshian MA, Guignard AP, Haguinet F, et al.The epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications in Medicare cancer patients.BMC Infectious Diseases. 2015;15(1):106. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0810-6U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaccine types.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Anderson TC, Masters NB, Guo A, et al.Use of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Immunocompromised Adults Aged ≥19 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2022;71:80–84. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7103a2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Shingrix package insert.Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2018;67:103–108. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6703a5Vink P, Delgado Mingorance I, Maximiano Alonso C, et al.Immunogenicity and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in patients with solid tumors, vaccinated before or during chemotherapy: a randomized trial.Cancer. 2019;125(8):1301-1312. doi:10.1002/cncr.31909López-Fauqued M, Co-van der Mee M, Bastidas A, et al.Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompromised populations: an overview of six trials.Drug Saf. 2021;44(7):811-823. doi:10.1007/s40264-021-01076-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Qian J, Heywood AE, Karki S, et al.Risk of herpes zoster prior to and following cancer diagnosis and treatment: a population-based prospective cohort study.Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2019;220(1):3-11. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiy625Yenikomshian MA, Guignard AP, Haguinet F, et al.The epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications in Medicare cancer patients.BMC Infectious Diseases. 2015;15(1):106. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0810-6U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaccine types.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Anderson TC, Masters NB, Guo A, et al.Use of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Immunocompromised Adults Aged ≥19 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2022;71:80–84. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7103a2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Shingrix package insert.Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2018;67:103–108. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6703a5Vink P, Delgado Mingorance I, Maximiano Alonso C, et al.Immunogenicity and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in patients with solid tumors, vaccinated before or during chemotherapy: a randomized trial.Cancer. 2019;125(8):1301-1312. doi:10.1002/cncr.31909López-Fauqued M, Co-van der Mee M, Bastidas A, et al.Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompromised populations: an overview of six trials.Drug Saf. 2021;44(7):811-823. doi:10.1007/s40264-021-01076-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Qian J, Heywood AE, Karki S, et al.Risk of herpes zoster prior to and following cancer diagnosis and treatment: a population-based prospective cohort study.Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2019;220(1):3-11. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiy625Yenikomshian MA, Guignard AP, Haguinet F, et al.The epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications in Medicare cancer patients.BMC Infectious Diseases. 2015;15(1):106. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0810-6U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaccine types.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Anderson TC, Masters NB, Guo A, et al.Use of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Immunocompromised Adults Aged ≥19 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2022;71:80–84. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7103a2U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Shingrix package insert.Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2018;67:103–108. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6703a5Vink P, Delgado Mingorance I, Maximiano Alonso C, et al.Immunogenicity and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in patients with solid tumors, vaccinated before or during chemotherapy: a randomized trial.Cancer. 2019;125(8):1301-1312. doi:10.1002/cncr.31909López-Fauqued M, Co-van der Mee M, Bastidas A, et al.Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompromised populations: an overview of six trials.Drug Saf. 2021;44(7):811-823. doi:10.1007/s40264-021-01076-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).

Qian J, Heywood AE, Karki S, et al.Risk of herpes zoster prior to and following cancer diagnosis and treatment: a population-based prospective cohort study.Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2019;220(1):3-11. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiy625

Yenikomshian MA, Guignard AP, Haguinet F, et al.The epidemiology of herpes zoster and its complications in Medicare cancer patients.BMC Infectious Diseases. 2015;15(1):106. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-0810-6

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Vaccine types.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.

Anderson TC, Masters NB, Guo A, et al.Use of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Immunocompromised Adults Aged ≥19 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2022;71:80–84. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7103a2

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Shingrix package insert.

Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al.Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2018;67:103–108. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6703a5

Vink P, Delgado Mingorance I, Maximiano Alonso C, et al.Immunogenicity and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in patients with solid tumors, vaccinated before or during chemotherapy: a randomized trial.Cancer. 2019;125(8):1301-1312. doi:10.1002/cncr.31909

López-Fauqued M, Co-van der Mee M, Bastidas A, et al.Safety profile of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine in immunocompromised populations: an overview of six trials.Drug Saf. 2021;44(7):811-823. doi:10.1007/s40264-021-01076-w

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).

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