How Soon After A Shingles Episode Can You Get Shingrix?

Hello and thank you for your question!

It can certainly be a challenge to understand when you are due for a particular vaccine, and whether or not you can get more than one at a time.

Additionally, a very common question regarding Shingrix, the preferred shingles vaccine according to ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), is when you can get it after experiencing an episode of shingles.

In regard to this, recommendations vary.

CDC Recommendation

The CDC (Centers For Disease Control) recommends the following:

"If a patient is experiencing an episode of herpes zoster, vaccination should be delayed until the acute stage of the illness is over and symptoms abate. Studies of safety and immunogenicity of RZV [recombinant zoster vaccine] in this population are ongoing."

In other words, the CDC recommends that patients can get Shingrix as long as a prior episode of shingles has subsided and residual symptoms have gone away.

Health Canada Recommendation

Health Canada recommends a more conservative approach:

"May be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older with a prior history of HZ disease with at least one year recommended following the last episode of HZ."

Recurrent Shingles Risk

So, which recommendation to follow?

First and foremost, it is important to speak to your doctor regarding the best time for you to be vaccinated for your particular medical situation.

Having said that, it should be noted that studies indicate that the risk of recurrent episodes of shingles is low for the first 12 to 18 months after an episode, mostly due to residual immunity.

One study on the matter concluded the following:

"Such a low risk [of recurrent shingles within 18 months] suggests that one should evaluate the necessity of immediately vaccinating immunocompetent patients who had a recent herpes zoster episode."

According to the above study, it doesn't appear necessary to immediately seek the shingles vaccination after an episode of an outbreak, as the risk of it occurring again suddenly is low anyway.

In other words, vaccinating within the first 12 or so months after a shingles episode (for someone with no known immune system problems) may not have much of a benefit anyway, as our immune system already has a recent 'memory' of the virus, and would be able to respond more rapidly and effectively.

As mentioned, however, be sure to talk to your doctor about when is best for you to be vaccinated.

Thank you again for your question!