Steve asked
I had the Zostavax shot in April of 2017. Is it really beneficial for me to get the Shingrix shot? I'm 67 and did have a small case of shingles when I was 66.
Answer
Per the CDC (Centers For Disease Control), Shingrix is recommended to patients, even if they have already been vaccinated with Zostavax, although there are some caveats to this as described below.
Getting Shingrix AFTER Zostavax
The CDC gives the following recommendation:
CDC recommends two doses of Shingrix separated by 2 to 6 months for immunocompetent adults age 50 years and older:
- Whether or not they report a prior episode of herpes zoster.
- Whether or not they report a prior dose of Zostavax.
While you are recommended to get Shingrix even though you had Zostavax, you do need to wait at least 8 weeks after receiving Zostavax to have Shingrix administered.
Lastly, it is important to note that in the clinical studies for Shingrix, it was only evaluated in those who got Zostavax five or more years prior and the safety of the Shingrix was not evaluated in those who got it more recently, like in your situation. Nevertheless, again per the CDC:
"Studies examined the safety of Shingrix vaccination five or more years after Zostavax vaccination. Shorter intervals were not studied, but there are no theoretical or data concerns to indicate that Shingrix would be less safe or effective if administered less than five years after a patient received Zostavax."
Something your doctor may consider regarding whether or not to re-vaccinate with Shingrix so soon after Zostavax is your age or other risk factors. For example, the efficacy of Zostavax decreases significantly in older individuals, specifically those over the age of 70 (although you are only 67). Be sure to speak with your doctor regarding whether or not they think re-vaccinating for shingles (herpes zoster) with Shingrix is appropriate for your specific situation.
In terms of the benefits of Shingrix over Zostavax, we wrote an in-depth article comparing the two vaccines, which can be found here: Shingrix Vs. Zostavax: What Is The Difference Between Shingles Vaccines?
Summary
- Shingrix is recommended in those who already received Zostavax.
- The minimum recommended wait time between Zostavax and Shingrix administration is 8 weeks.
