Is Shingrix Recommended If You Already Had Zostavax?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses recommendations for Shingrix if you've already had Zostavax.
I had the older single-dose Zostavax vaccine 5 years ago. I had a mild case of shingles about 10 months later. Is this one dose of Zostavax all I need, or should I get the newer 2 doses of Shingrix vaccination now? Thank you.
Aug 09, 2022- Shingrix is recommended even if you previously received Zostavax because it is more effective at preventing shingles.
- You need to receive 2 doses of Shingrix, and you can start this series at least 8 weeks after your Zostavax vaccination.
Hello and thanks for contacting us!
Zostavax and Shingrix are both vaccines for the prevention of shingles. Zostavax was first on the market, being first used in 2006, and was manufactured by Merck & Co. Shingrix was released in 2017 and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
Clinical trials show that Shingrix has far superior efficacy in preventing shingles episodes when compared to Zostavax, and soon after the release of Shingrix, it was the shingles vaccine of choice for most people. Unless an individual had a specific allergy or contraindication to Shingles, it was the shingles vaccine recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and immunization experts.
Due to Shingrix being more effective than Zostavax, and it being the recommended shingles vaccine, Zostavax was discontinued by Merck in 2020.
Shingrix After Zostavax
Millions of individuals were vaccinated with Zostavax when it was on the market. So, a very common question that comes up is whether or not you should get vaccinated with Shingrix if you've already been vaccinated with Zostavax. The answer here is that it is recommended to receive Shingrix, even if you've had Zostavax before.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) states the following:
You may have already got a different shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is no longer in use in the United States. If you did, you still need 2 doses of Shingrix.
You mention in your question that it has been five years since you had Zostavax. This is more than enough time between Zostavax and getting Shingrix. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) states that you can receive Shingrix 8 weeks after getting Zostavax:
ACIP recommends that people who previously received Zostavax receive 2 doses of Shingrix. The first dose of Shingrix may be given a minimum of 8 weeks after Zostavax.
Since Zostavax was discontinued in late 2020, having to wait at least 8 weeks isn't a concern anymore.
Final Words
Going back to the situation you described in your question, it would be recommended for you to get the Shingrix vaccine. It has been more than 8 weeks since your Zostavax dose and the CDC states you can get vaccinated after your most recent shingles episode has cleared up (we wrote about this recently).
I want to thank you for your question and please feel free to reach back out again!
References & sources
- What Everyone Should Know about the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix) — CDC
- Get the Shingrix Vaccine If You Are 50 or Older — CDC
- Ask the Experts Zoster (shingles) — Immunize.org
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Efficacy
- The ability of a vaccine to prevent disease in people who receive it.
- Contraindication
- A medical reason why someone should not receive a particular vaccine or treatment.
- Shingles
- A painful viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, occurring later in life.
- Herpes Zoster
- The medical name for shingles, a reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body.
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- A group of medical experts that provides recommendations about which vaccines people should receive.
- Vaccine
- A medical preparation that helps the body's immune system recognize and fight specific diseases.
- Immunization
- The process of protecting someone against a disease by giving them a vaccine.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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