Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsCommon Side EffectsRare Side EffectsWho Should Get ItWho Should Not Get ItCoping With Side Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Common Side Effects
Rare Side Effects
Who Should Get It
Who Should Not Get It
Coping With Side Effects
Common shingles vaccine (Shingrix) side effects include mild pain and redness at the injection site. Some people have fatigue, headache, and fever after getting the shingles shot. The side effects of Shingrix may last for two to three days but are not serious. More serious side effects after a shingles shot, like an allergic reaction, are rare.
The shingles vaccination helps prevent shingles (herpes zoster) and complications of the illness, such as nerve pain.While it’s important to know about the potential side effects of the shingles vaccine, the benefits of vaccination usually outweigh concerns about side effects.
When to call 911If you develop symptoms of anaphylaxis after a shingles shot, such as hives, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.
When to call 911
If you develop symptoms of anaphylaxis after a shingles shot, such as hives, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing, call 911 or seek emergency care right away.
What Is the Shingles Vaccine?
Shingrixis an FDA-approved vaccine that can prevent shingles (herpes zoster) in adults over the age of 50 and in immunocompromised adults over the age of 18. The shingles shot can protect you from developing shingles symptoms and complications such aspostherpetic neuralgia(PHN).
Common Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine
Studies have shown that theshingles vaccineis safe.If people do have side effects after the shot, they are usually not serious and do not last long. Common side effects of the shingles vaccine include:
How soon do side effects start after Shingrix?The shingles vaccine is given in a two-shot series that you get two to six months apart. You may have side effects after the first, second, or both shots. Some people tend to feel certain symptoms like muscle pain and headache after they get thesecond dose of Shingrix, but everyone is different.The side effects of a shingles vaccine are usually mild. Some, like a sore arm, will come on immediately after you get the shot.It typically takes around two or three days for the side effects of the shingles vaccine to go away.
How soon do side effects start after Shingrix?
The shingles vaccine is given in a two-shot series that you get two to six months apart. You may have side effects after the first, second, or both shots. Some people tend to feel certain symptoms like muscle pain and headache after they get thesecond dose of Shingrix, but everyone is different.The side effects of a shingles vaccine are usually mild. Some, like a sore arm, will come on immediately after you get the shot.It typically takes around two or three days for the side effects of the shingles vaccine to go away.
The shingles vaccine is given in a two-shot series that you get two to six months apart. You may have side effects after the first, second, or both shots. Some people tend to feel certain symptoms like muscle pain and headache after they get thesecond dose of Shingrix, but everyone is different.
The side effects of a shingles vaccine are usually mild. Some, like a sore arm, will come on immediately after you get the shot.
It typically takes around two or three days for the side effects of the shingles vaccine to go away.
Side effects of the shingles vaccine tend to be more common in younger people. They are usually mild but might get in the way of your normal daily activities for a few days.
While side effects can feel like a downside of the shingles vaccine, keep in mind that the symptoms you’re having mean that your immune system is learning to build a defense against the shingle virus—which is what the vaccine is meant to do.
You can ask your provider if it’s OK to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) after a shingles vaccine to help with your symptoms.Generally taking it easy for a few days and drinking plenty of fluids can help, too.
Rare Side Effects of the Shingles Vaccine
In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can happen after a shingles vaccine.It’s a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis after receiving the shingles vaccine include:
Reporting Side Effects
Can the Shingles Shot Cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
It’s rare, but a condition calledGuillain-Barré syndromecan happen after the shingles vaccine or after you’ve had the shingles virus.It is an autoimmune condition in which cells that are part of the immune system attack nerve cells. The symptoms include loss of sensation and muscle paralysis that comes on fast, typically spreading up from the lower half of your body (e.g., the legs).
Guillain-Barré syndromecan be life-threatening, so contact a healthcare provider right away if you think you may have symptoms after getting a shingles shot.
How Long Are You Contagious After the Shingles Vaccine?You arenotcontagious after you get the shingles shot. The shingles vaccine uses an inactivated or dead version of the virus.You cannot spread shingles to someone after you have the vaccine.You also cannot get chickenpox from the shingles vaccine or spread chickenpox to someone after you have the shingles shot. However, if you notice a chickenpox-like rash on your skin where you got the shot, it’s best to cover it up until it heals.
How Long Are You Contagious After the Shingles Vaccine?
You arenotcontagious after you get the shingles shot. The shingles vaccine uses an inactivated or dead version of the virus.You cannot spread shingles to someone after you have the vaccine.You also cannot get chickenpox from the shingles vaccine or spread chickenpox to someone after you have the shingles shot. However, if you notice a chickenpox-like rash on your skin where you got the shot, it’s best to cover it up until it heals.
You arenotcontagious after you get the shingles shot. The shingles vaccine uses an inactivated or dead version of the virus.You cannot spread shingles to someone after you have the vaccine.
You also cannot get chickenpox from the shingles vaccine or spread chickenpox to someone after you have the shingles shot. However, if you notice a chickenpox-like rash on your skin where you got the shot, it’s best to cover it up until it heals.
Who Should Get the Shingles Vaccine
The CDC recommends the following people get a shingles vaccine:
Can You Get the Shingles Vaccine at the Same Time as Other Vaccines?It is safe for you to get a shingles vaccine at the same time as many others, including the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.Your healthcare provider will want to use different sites on your body for the shots, so you may be sore in both arms.
Can You Get the Shingles Vaccine at the Same Time as Other Vaccines?
It is safe for you to get a shingles vaccine at the same time as many others, including the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.Your healthcare provider will want to use different sites on your body for the shots, so you may be sore in both arms.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of the Shingles Vaccine
The vaccine to preventshingleswill help you to avoidshingles symptomsand the potential complications of shingles. While some people only get a mild case of shingles, it can cause severe illness, pain, and complications in other people.
Shingles symptoms usually come in stages, though how the infection progresses can be a little different for everyone.Early signs of shinglesmay include:
After three to five days,shingles looks likea prickly, painfulpimple-like rash. In the eruptive stage, the pimples turn intoblisters, and your skin can be red and swollen. Shingles sores also can affect yourmouth.
Shingles is generally notlife-threateningunless you have a weakened immune system. During an outbreak of shingles and after the rash clears up, some people might get complications that require immediate medical attention.
How Effective Is the Shingles Vaccine?Clinical trials have shown that Shingrix prevents shingles in at least 91% of people 50 and older. That age group is the most at risk of developing shingles.Although it is possible to get shingles even after you’ve been vaccinated, you are less likely to develop severe symptoms or complications.
How Effective Is the Shingles Vaccine?
Clinical trials have shown that Shingrix prevents shingles in at least 91% of people 50 and older. That age group is the most at risk of developing shingles.Although it is possible to get shingles even after you’ve been vaccinated, you are less likely to develop severe symptoms or complications.
Common shingles complications include:
What If I Got Zostavax?If you were vaccinated with Zostavax—a shingles vaccine that is no longer available in the United States—your healthcare provider may recommend also getting the Shingrix vaccine.
What If I Got Zostavax?
If you were vaccinated with Zostavax—a shingles vaccine that is no longer available in the United States—your healthcare provider may recommend also getting the Shingrix vaccine.
The CDC says some people should not get Shingrix. Your doctor may not recommend the shingles vaccine if:
Your healthcare provider can answer any questions you have about whether the vaccine is safe for you.
How to Reduce Shingles Shot Side Effects
You cannot necessarily prevent side effects from a shingles shot and there isn’t much you can do to make them go away faster.
In general, taking it easy for the rest of the day after your vaccine, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and making quality sleep a priority will help your body do the important job of preparing itself to fight off a shingles infection in the future.
What is the controversy with the shingles shot?The Zostavax shot was previously offered in the United States. Some people who received this vaccine have alleged that it caused them to develop a severe case of shingles.
What is the controversy with the shingles shot?
The Zostavax shot was previously offered in the United States. Some people who received this vaccine have alleged that it caused them to develop a severe case of shingles.
Summary
Getting a shingles vaccine is the only way to prevent shingles. While you can have some mild side effects, the benefits of the shingles shot outweigh the risk of side effects or rare complications for most people.
If you’re not sure if you can and should get a shingles vaccine, talk to your provider. While theshingles shot is effectiveand safe for most people who are eligible for it, there are some situations where you might not want to get it or you may want to delay getting the vaccine—for example, if you’re currently sick or pregnant.
12 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) vaccine safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Syed YY.Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix®): A review in herpes zoster.Drugs Aging. 2018;35(12):1031-1040. doi:10.1007/s40266-018-0603-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.What you can expect after getting Shingrix vaccine fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Explaining how vaccines work.Shingrix.FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles symptoms and complications.Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case Rep. 2018;11(1):e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine.Common questions about the shingles vaccine.Jeon YH.Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Practical consideration for prevention and treatment.Korean J Pain. 2015;28(3):177-84. doi:10.3344/kjp.2015.28.3.177Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) products liability litigation.
12 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) vaccine safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Syed YY.Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix®): A review in herpes zoster.Drugs Aging. 2018;35(12):1031-1040. doi:10.1007/s40266-018-0603-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.What you can expect after getting Shingrix vaccine fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Explaining how vaccines work.Shingrix.FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles symptoms and complications.Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case Rep. 2018;11(1):e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine.Common questions about the shingles vaccine.Jeon YH.Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Practical consideration for prevention and treatment.Korean J Pain. 2015;28(3):177-84. doi:10.3344/kjp.2015.28.3.177Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) products liability litigation.
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) vaccine safety.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.Syed YY.Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix®): A review in herpes zoster.Drugs Aging. 2018;35(12):1031-1040. doi:10.1007/s40266-018-0603-xCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.What you can expect after getting Shingrix vaccine fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Explaining how vaccines work.Shingrix.FAQs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles symptoms and complications.Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case Rep. 2018;11(1):e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine.Common questions about the shingles vaccine.Jeon YH.Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Practical consideration for prevention and treatment.Korean J Pain. 2015;28(3):177-84. doi:10.3344/kjp.2015.28.3.177Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) products liability litigation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine safety.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What you can expect after getting Shingrix vaccine fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Explaining how vaccines work.
Shingrix.FAQs.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles symptoms and complications.
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University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine.Common questions about the shingles vaccine.
Jeon YH.Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Practical consideration for prevention and treatment.Korean J Pain. 2015;28(3):177-84. doi:10.3344/kjp.2015.28.3.177
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) products liability litigation.
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