# Shingles Vaccine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118 "2023-08-05T19:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/1 "2023-08-05T19:51:57Z")
My sister (mid-30s) is going through her second bout of shingles. If she gets the shingles vaccine once she is healthy again, will it limit the chances that she’ll have more recurrences in the future? Or would it at least lessen the painfulness and duration? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/2 "2023-08-05T20:28:23Z")
_Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time you must wait after having shingles before receiving shingles vaccine, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your healthcare provider._ [Shingles Zostavax Vaccination | What You Should Know | CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/zostavax/index.html#:~:text=Recombinant%20zoster%20vaccine%20)(RZV%2C%20Shingrix,future%20occurrences%20of%20the%20disease. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/3 "2023-08-05T21:19:49Z")
> **What is the minimum age for administering Shingrix?** > > The routinely recommended minimum age for Shingrix among immunocompetent adults is 50 years. However, if a dose is inadvertently administered to an immunocompetent adult 18 through 49 years of age CDC does not recommend repeating the dose. The second Shingrix dose should not be administered until the 50th birthday. [https://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts\_zos.asp](https://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_zos.asp) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/4 "2023-08-06T10:49:50Z")
My husband got Shingles when he was about 43. After that, he got the vaccine as soon as his doctor cleared him for it, and insurance paid for it. What we were told was that the recommended age to begin is 50-- unless you have already had a bout, in which case, the recommended age is ASAP after you doctor clears you to get it. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/5 "2023-08-06T16:30:38Z")
Thank you everyone, that’s been really helpful. I wasn’t having much luck finding answers on Google other than it isn’t recommended for people under 50. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/6 "2023-08-06T20:06:26Z")
True, but her personal physician is the proper arbiter on this. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/7 "2023-08-07T05:01:41Z")
I’m 75, but I had to get 2 shots one year apart (and they hurt!) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/8 "2023-08-07T18:53:43Z")
The Shingrix vaccine is only good for about 10 years, so you may need to get the 2-shot vaccine more than once. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-vaccine/988118/9 "2023-08-07T19:34:59Z")
Recent data suggests the vaccine remains highly effective for _at least_ ten years. > **[GSK polishes 'crown jewel' Shingrix with new long-term protection data in...](https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/gsk-polishes-crown-jewel-shingrix-new-long-term-protection-data-older-adults)** > > As GSK looks to cement its vaccine dynasty over the coming years, the company continues to polish its “crown jewel” Shingrix. | As GSK looks to cement its vaccine dynasty over the coming years, the company continues to polish its “crown jewel”... I’m unaware of any expert recommendations for a Shingrix booster.