Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccination
Shingles is a painful localized skin rash often with blisters that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles because VZV remains in the nerve cells of the body after the chickenpox infection clears and VZV can reappear years later causing shingles. Shingles most commonly occurs in people 50 years old or older, people who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs.
Shingles vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to reduce the risk of shingles and its associated pain in people 60 years old or older. See MMWR: Prevention of Shingles (and corrections.)
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
For the Media:
What You Should Know
- Overview Posted Jan 2011
Symptoms, transmission, complications, treatment and prevention - Pictures of Shingles
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic.
- Shingles Vaccination: What You Need to Know Posted Jan 2011
General information, including who should and should not get the vaccine, possible reactions and reimbursement for vaccination - Protect Yourself Against Shingles: Get Vaccinated
CDC feature, updated July 2010 - PODCAST: There’s a Vaccine for Shingles?! Posted Jul 2009
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- Clinical Overview Posted Jan 2011
- Clinical Diagnosis & Laboratory Testing Posted Jan 2011
- Preventing Transmission in Healthcare Settings Posted Jan 2011
- Ask the Experts
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition)
Vaccine Information
- Recommendations
- ACIP Recommendations Updated June 2008
Provides recommendations for its use among adults aged 60 years and older in the U.S. - Recommendations In–Short Posted Jan 2011
- ACIP Recommendations Updated June 2008
- Herpes Zoster Vaccination for Health Care Professionals Posted Jan 2011
Vaccine composition, dosage, and efficacy; immunization recommendations; vaccine safety and monitoring; vaccine administration errors; supply, distribution, and storage - Proper storage and handling of vaccines UPDATED dec 2011
CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling guide includes shelf life, reconstitution instructions... - Zostavax package insert and patient information, FDA
References and Resources
- Print Ads (fact sheets, personal story, and poster) Updated Jul 2008
- Adult Vaccine Campaign Flyers
Three flyers (one also in Spanish) encourage adults to ask about immunizations they may need - Zostavax questions and answers from FDA
- Herpes Zoster Disease-related and Vaccine-related Resources and References
Provider Education
- Video: Herpes Zoster: Who's at Risk and Who Should be Vaccinated
Posted Nov 2011
CDC Expert Commentary in Partnership with Medscape, 4:35 minutes - Slide set: Overview of VZV Disease & Vaccination for Healthcare Professionals
[PPT - 1.53MB, 57 slides]
Updated Jan 2011 - CME Credit: Herpes Zoster Vaccine is Safe, but Financial and Other Barriers Limit Its Use Posted May 2010
From MedscapeCME Clinical Briefs (Valid for credit through 05/05/2011) - 2008 podcast: Immunizations Part II: Shingles Vaccine
Details on podcasts page
For the Media
- CDC Seeks to Protect Older Adults with Shingles Vaccine Message
[PDF-138 KB, 17 pages] Posted April 2008 - CDC's press release
Posted May 15, 2008
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Content last reviewed on January 10, 2011
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
