Shingles Vaccine Recommendations

Introduction

CDC recommends Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine or RZV) for the prevention of herpes zoster (shingles) and related complications.

This page summarizes CDC's current shingles vaccine recommendations. Access the official, full text below:

Routine recommendations

People 50 years old and older

CDC recommends 2 doses of Shingrix separated by 2–6 months for immunocompetent adults aged 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, a shingles vaccine that is no longer available for use in the United States.
• It's not necessary to screen, either verbally or by laboratory serology, for evidence of prior varicella infection.

Recombinant and adjuvanted vaccines (like Shingrix) can be administered concomitantly at different anatomic sites with other adult vaccines. This includes COVID-19 vaccines. Coadministration of RZV with adjuvanted influenza vaccine (Fluad) and COVID-19 vaccines is being studied.

Immunocompromised adults 19 years and older

CDC recommends 2 doses of RZV to prevent shingles in adults aged ≥19 years who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed because of disease or therapy. The second dose of RZV should typically be given 2–6 months after the first. However, for persons who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed and who would benefit from completing the series in a shorter period, the second dose can be administered 1–2 months after the first.

Timing considerations for giving Shingrix

For patients who previously had herpes zoster

There is no specific amount of time you need to wait before administering Shingrix to patients who have had herpes zoster. However, you should not give Shingrix to patients who are experiencing an acute episode of herpes zoster.

For patients who previously received Zostavax

Zostavax is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. Consider the patient’s age and when they received Zostavax to determine when to vaccinate with Shingrix. Studies examined the safety of Shingrix vaccination 5 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 5 years after a patient received Zostavax.

You may consider an interval shorter than 5 years between Zostavax and Shingrix based on the age at which the patient received Zostavax. Differences in efficacy between Shingrix and Zostavax are most pronounced among older patients. Studies have shown that the effectiveness of Zostavax wanes substantially over time, leaving recipients with reduced protection against herpes zoster. For example, the vaccine efficacy among adults aged 70 to 79 years and adults aged 80 years and older is 41% and 18%, respectively, on average during the first 3 years following Zostavax vaccination.

You should wait at least 8 weeks after a patient received Zostavax to administer Shingrix.

For patients who don't report a prior episode of varicella

When vaccinating immunocompetent adults aged 50 years and older, there is no need to screen for a history of varicella or to conduct laboratory testing for serologic evidence of prior varicella. More than 99% of adults aged 50 years and older worldwide have been exposed to varicella-zoster virus; and the ACIP considers people born in the United States prior to 1980 immune to varicella.

Therefore, even if a person does not recall having chickenpox, serologic testing for varicella immunity is not recommended. It is often a barrier to herpes zoster vaccination, and false negatives are common. However, if serologic evidence of varicella susceptibility becomes available to the healthcare provider, providers should follow ACIP guidelines for varicella vaccination. Shingrix has not been evaluated in persons who are seronegative to varicella, and it is not indicated for the prevention of varicella.

Contraindications and precautions

Contraindications and precautions to vaccination generally dictate circumstances when vaccines will not be given.

Resources

• Shingles Vaccine Safety
• Shingles Vaccine Information Statement
• Vaccines Web-based Training Course
• Immunization schedules (Child and adolescent | Adult)
• Vaccines For Children Program Information for Providers

Clinical information

• Pink Book: Shingles
• Clinical Overview of Shingles