The Vaccine Everyone Over 50 Should Get
This shot protects against shingles and may also be good for your brain and heart
Chances are, if you were born before 1980, you had chickenpox at some point. Today, the highly contagious disease is rare in the U.S., owing to the efficacy of the vaccine, but the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox) can reactivate in the body years later in the form of shingles. An estimated 1 million Americans develop it annually. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to shingles and complications. Fortunately, the shingles vaccine is highly effective. Here’s what to know.
Why You Don't Want Shingles
Shingles can bring a painful, itchy rash with blisters around one side of the body or face. It can cause nerve pain, fever, headache, and upset stomach. Up to 18 percent of people experience acute nerve pain.
"Even once the rash goes away, the pain can persist," says Aarati Didwania, MD, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "It can be quite debilitating."
How the Shingles Vaccine Helps
Getting vaccinated is the only way to protect against a shingles infection. The recommended vaccine, Shingrix, is 97 percent effective at preventing shingles in adults 50 to 69 years old with healthy immune systems. In adults 70 and older, the vaccine is shown to be 91 percent effective.
When to Have the Shingles Shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of Shingrix (separated by two to six months) for people 50 and older, and those 19 and older with weakened immune systems. If you’ve had shingles, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences. You’ll also want to get the shot if you’ve previously received Zostavax (the older, less effective shingles vaccine).
What to Expect With Shingrix
Shingrix, the current shingles vaccine, creates a robust immune system reaction, which in turn helps your body build a strong defense against shingles.
That process can lead to some discomfort, such as a few days of muscle aches, fever, pain, chills, and fatigue. In fact, 78 percent of people reported experiencing injection site pain after Shingrix, and 17 percent said side effects kept them from regular activities in the short term.
Getting the vaccine does bring a slightly increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include muscle weakness and tingling in the feet or hands. If you experience any of these or other significant issues, contact your doctor immediately. And if you have a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, call 911.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the January 2026 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
