Immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health measure.
The shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, protects against shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Shingrix® is not a live virus vaccine and cannot give you shingles or chickenpox. The vaccine is approved by Health Canada.
Shingrix® is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older. This includes people who:
People 18 years of age and older who have or will have a weakened immune system should also get the vaccine.
You can buy the shingles vaccine at most pharmacies and travel clinics. The vaccine is given as a series of 2 doses, 2 to 6 months apart. Some health insurance plans may cover the cost of the vaccine. Check with your health care provider.
The shingles vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting shingles. The vaccine prevents more than 90% of shingles cases in adults 50 years and older. In adults 18 years and older with a weakened immune system, the vaccine prevents about 70%-90% of shingles cases.
For those who still get shingles after being immunized, the vaccine can reduce pain, including the type of pain that lasts after shingles.
The shingles vaccine is very safe. Common reactions to the vaccine include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Other reactions include headache, fever, muscle soreness, fatigue, shivering, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®) can be given for fever or soreness. ASA (e.g. Aspirin®) should not be given to anyone under 18 years of age due to the risk of Reye syndrome.
*Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age without first speaking to your health care provider.
For more information on Reye syndrome, visit HealthLinkBC File #84 – Reye syndrome.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body’s muscles. Very rare cases of GBS have been reported after getting the shingles vaccine.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine. There is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This happens in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine. Symptoms may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this reaction occurs, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes administration of epinephrine (adrenaline) and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
Always report serious or unexpected reactions to your health care provider.
Speak with your health care provider if you:
There is no need to delay getting immunized because of a cold or other mild illness. If you have concerns, speak with your health care provider.
Shingles is a painful skin rash with blisters. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. In some people who have had chickenpox, the virus becomes active again later in life and causes shingles. About 1 out of 3 people who are unimmunized will get shingles in their lifetime.
Shingles is more common in people over 50 years of age and in those with weakened immune systems.
Shingles usually appears as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash may last for 2 to 4 weeks. Before the rash appears, some people may experience pain, itching or tingling of the skin. Other early symptoms of shingles include fever, headache, nausea and chills. The most common symptom of shingles is pain, which can be severe.
About 1 in 5 people who get shingles may have severe pain that lasts months to years after the rash has cleared. This is known as post-herpetic neuralgia.
Rare complications of shingles include pneumonia, loss of hearing or vision, scarring, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or death.
You cannot get shingles from someone who has shingles. However, you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. This is rare and requires direct contact with the fluid from the shingles blisters. For more information about chickenpox and the chickenpox vaccine, visit HealthLinkBC File #44a - Facts about chickenpox and HealthLinkBC File #44b - Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.
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