Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffectivenessZostavax vs. Shingrix DifferencesSimilaritiesWhich Is Better?Do I Need to Get a Shingles Vaccine?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effectiveness
Zostavax vs. Shingrix Differences
Similarities
Which Is Better?
Do I Need to Get a Shingles Vaccine?
Frequently Asked Questions
This article will discuss the differences between these two vaccines as well as the expert recommendations regarding shingles vaccination.
Kathrin Ziegler / Getty
Instead, recombinant vaccines target specific components of the virus, allowing for a focused immune response.Shingrix has shown a 90% effective rate at preventing shingles and PHN in healthy adults, with protection between 68% and 91% in people with weakened immune systems.
The major differences between Zostavax and Shingrix are outlined below:
Zostavax and Shingrix do have a few similarities:
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a group of medical and public health experts that develop vaccine usage recommendations in the United States.ACIP also includes experts from several professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
With the Shingrix vaccination being incredibly effective at reducing the risk of a shingles infection, many healthcare professionals, such as primary care physicians, highly encourage people to receive the vaccine. It is important for you to have that discussion with your healthcare provider, such as a primary care physician, and decide if the vaccine is the right choice based on your personal medical history.
What Is the Shingrix Vaccine?
Summary
Shingles is an infection that occurs in adults, years after a childhood chickenpox infection. In addition to causing a painful, itchy or tingly rash, shingles can also cause postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) or other significant medical complications.
Because there is no definitive testing that can identify if individuals have the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) dormant, many healthcare professionals and experts highly encourage a shingles vaccine. The Shingrix vaccine is the only shingles vaccine available in the United States and offers significant protection against shingles; while over 90% effective initially, Shingrix has been shown to be at least 85% effective against both shingles and PHN.
Shingles is the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV); therefore, it is typically a disease in adults. Zostavax is FDA approved for people who are at least 60 years of age. Shingrix is FDA approved for people at least 50 years of age.
Zostavax is available globally, although it is not readily available in the United States. Zostavax is made from a weakened live shingles virus, while Shingrix is made from a recombinant zoster vaccine and contains no shingles virus, weakened or otherwise. Shingrix is considered safer, can be used in adults at a younger age, and has better short and long-term efficacy than Zostavax, which is why the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) endorses the use of Shingrix significantly more than Zostavax.
6 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 vaccination.Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.What everyone should know about zostavax.Food & Drug Administration.Shingrix label.Nascimento IP, Leite LC.Recombinant vaccines and the development of new vaccine strategies.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012;45(12):1102-1111. doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Role of the advisory committee on immunization practices in CDC’s vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).
6 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 vaccination.Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.What everyone should know about zostavax.Food & Drug Administration.Shingrix label.Nascimento IP, Leite LC.Recombinant vaccines and the development of new vaccine strategies.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012;45(12):1102-1111. doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Role of the advisory committee on immunization practices in CDC’s vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About 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 vaccination.Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.What everyone should know about zostavax.Food & Drug Administration.Shingrix label.Nascimento IP, Leite LC.Recombinant vaccines and the development of new vaccine strategies.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012;45(12):1102-1111. doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Role of the advisory committee on immunization practices in CDC’s vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination.
Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.What everyone should know about zostavax.
Food & Drug Administration.Shingrix label.
Nascimento IP, Leite LC.Recombinant vaccines and the development of new vaccine strategies.Braz J Med Biol Res. 2012;45(12):1102-1111. doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2012007500142
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Role of the advisory committee on immunization practices in CDC’s vaccine recommendations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
