Shingles Vaccination Side Effects - Pros and Cons

Consider this: You had chickenpox when you were a child and later at the age of 62 you suffered the painful condition of herpes zoster, or shingles. You have suffered no residual effects, life is quiet and uneventual at the moment and your health is the best it has ever been. During a regularly scheduled visit to your doctor, it is suggested that you get the new vaccine for shingles to prevent the disease from returning. What should you do?

First off, I am an advocate of doing your due diligence, and do not believe in taking every shot or pill your doctor suggests. I do believe in researching every medication you are prescribed to know the side effects and possible complications. I learned this the hard way, but that is another story.

Zostavax is a preventative vaccine for shingles. It is a booster for chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus that causes shingles. Zostavax is approved for people 60 years and older, and although it is mainly seen in the older population of society, it has been known present itself in young children as well.

Pros and Cons:

• Only fifty percent of those getting the vaccine are actually protected by it


• Of those who received the vaccine and got shingles anyway, the disease was less in severity.


• Lasting benefits are yet unproven


• Medicare Part B does not cover it, and neither do most insurances


• It can be expensive costing upwards of $300

The vaccine consists of one dose via injection of attenuated (live) virus as the chickenpox vaccine, but is 14 times stronger than the vaccine for chickenpox.

Side Effects:

The side effects have been small, just some redness, soreness, swelling, or itching at the injection site have been reported, and on rare occasions, headaches. It should be noted that Zostavax is not a cure for shingles. It is only meant to lessen the symptoms if you should get an outbreak and also to prevent complications such as postherpetic neuropathy, a painful and lingering aftermath of the shingles virus

The pain of a shingles infection can range from mild to severe. Some experience pain without the appearance of a rash or blisters, but usually the pain will precede the rash and has been known last longer than six months after the blisters have crusted over and healed. Zoster is treated with antivirals and pain medications to reduce symptoms. Topical creams are also used to reduce itching and pain associated with the rash or blisters.

Zostavax is not for those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, or persons with a past history of cancer, or presently being treated for cancer. If you have a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or neomycin, you should not take this medication.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT