Good article below from a Canadian source:
From what I have read, the old vaccine, Zostavax, was only 50% effective in preventing Shingles as its efficacy has been proven to decrease 5 years after the immunization was administered. The new vaccine, Shingrix, has been found to be over 90% effective on average in preventing a shingles outbreak.
My husband's colleague (who is in his early 40s) was out of the office for about a week with Shingles a few weeks ago - unfortunately on his face and scalp. He described it as feeling like barbed wire pulling across his face/head. No thanks! I was able to get the Shingrix vaccine this summer while in the US and will get the second, final dose/injection while in the US over Christmas.
My feeling is - better safe than sorry (but I know I had chicken pox as a child).
No, they could have caught chicken pox, you can't catch shingles. Shingles is the original virus you have had in you body since you had chicken pox.
Yeah but I meant that presumably, those that had had chicken pox were then at risk of catching your shingles, right?
Yes, only if one had chicken pox as a child could one develop Shingles later. The catch is many people think they have never had chicken pox, but for whatever reason (lapse in memory - or perhaps they had a very light case of chicken pox as a a child) they have the varicella antibodies which would then make them susceptible to contracting Shingles later.
In the US, they estimate over 90% of the population have had chicken pox or test positive for the antibodies.
Not at all, being in contact with somebody who has shingles doesnât make them more likely to get shingles. It is the exposure to the virus and subsequent antibodies that remain in the body after chicken pox that lead to shingles later in life. There are many things that can reactivate the virus that has lain dormant for years but being near somebody with shingles isnât one of them.
According to my mum's doc... catching shingles from shingles would usually only happen if the fluid filled blisters "wept " and made physical contact with another person. Otherwise it's as been said: chickenpox if you've never had it is a possibility. Being run down can also make you susceptible. I didn't get shingles and I've had both chicken pox as as a kid and shingles about 20 years ago.
Totally wrong, you can't catch shingles only chicken pox. Shingles is the result of the virus already in your body returning usually due to stress of some sort.
My sister takes the combined flu/shingles vax. She had shingles at the tail end of the 90s and was in agony, it was the virus from hell. About 18 months ago she had to have an emergency op for a blocked carotid artery in her neck, doctors told her had it not been caught she could have died of a sudden massive stroke or heart attack 
Isnât shingles a one off jab (with 2 jabs spread a month apart)?
My sister told me she gets a combined one done (perhaps itâs different in Britain?)
Isnât shingles a one off jab (with 2 jabs spread a month apart)?
Thatâs right. But I had one dual-jab a few years ago. I more recently had the new and improved dual-jab as itâs effectiveness is much better.
Zostavax is a single dose. Shingrix is two doses.
I had mine in 2024, hope I am covered but will check with the pharmacy, thanks.
Had my first* Shingrix vax two weeks ago.
According to my GP, expected efficacy should be 7-10 years for healthy older adults. Might be less for those who are immunocompromised.
- First of two doses, given two months apart.
1 Like
Anyone that has had Chicken pox should have Shingrix. The virus remains in your body and when it comes back âŚ
2 Likes
If you already had shingles, do you still need the vaccine, or is it like chickenpox, where once you have it, you have a sort of natural immunity?
You got me thinking. Itâs not clear:
2 Likes
Thanks so someone who had it is probably not going to get it again (about 5% chance) and actually less likely to get it than someone who was never infected.
So it seems like a partial immunity.
Not sure, but my sister never had chicken pox as a child. She was about 46 when she got shingles. A colleague of mine had it at the same time, he was sleeping in an armachair at night as he couldnât get relief from the pain. My sis rang me one morning when I was getting ready to go to work and she was practically hysterical. She still has marks on her body.