Health Tip: When to Get the Shingles Vaccine

Once you have had chickenpox, you are at risk for developing shingles, a painful skin rash and nerve disease that’s caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles can strike at any age, but usually affects adults after age 50, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says. Shingles can trigger complications including lasting eye damage and intense pain.

To help prevent shingles, the NIH recommends:

• At ages 50 to 59, the Zostavax vaccine is FDA-approved for preventing shingles, but many experts suggest waiting until age 60.
• At ages 60 and older, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests most people get the vaccine, even if they’ve already had shingles. The vaccine can protect against post-herpetic neuralgia, one of the most serious complications of shingles.