Why Every Older Adult Should Consider the Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)
Getting older has some advantages – but one downside is that our risk of developing certain illnesses increases. One of these is Shingles, a painful condition that can have long-lasting effects.
I recently had my second Shingrix vaccination, completing the recommended course. Like many people, I experienced some short-term side effects afterwards, mainly fatigue and exhaustion for a day or two. It wasn’t especially pleasant, but it soon passed. In my view, it was a small price to pay for the protection the vaccine offers.
If you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine, here’s why I think it’s well worth having.
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What Is Shingles?
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Even after you’ve recovered from chickenpox – perhaps many decades ago – the virus remains dormant in your nervous system.
As we age, our immune system naturally becomes less effective, allowing the virus to reactivate. When it does, it causes shingles.
The condition typically begins with tingling, burning or pain on one side of the body, followed by a blistering rash. While many people recover within a few weeks, others suffer much more serious complications.
It’s More Than Just a Rash
Many people underestimate shingles, assuming it’s simply an uncomfortable skin condition.
Unfortunately, it can be far more serious.
Complications can include:
- Severe nerve pain (known as post-herpetic neuralgia) that can last for months or even years.
- Eye infections that can threaten sight if shingles affects the face.
- Hearing or balance problems.
- Rarely, more serious neurological complications.
The risk of these complications increases significantly with age, particularly after 65.
How Effective Is Shingrix?
Shingrix is the vaccine now offered by the NHS. It replaced the older Zostavax vaccine because it provides much stronger and longer-lasting protection.
Clinical trials have shown that Shingrix is over 90% effective at preventing shingles in older adults, and it also greatly reduces the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia.
Protection remains high for many years after vaccination.
The vaccine is given as two injections, normally two to six months apart. It is a non-live vaccine that uses deactivated fragments of virus to create an immune reaction.
What About Side Effects?
Like any vaccine, Shingrix can cause side effects.
The most common include:
- Soreness at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Mild fever or chills
As mentioned earlier, I felt unusually tired and lacking in energy after both doses. People often find that the side effects after the second jab are worse than the first, though that wasn’t true in my case. Fortunately, the side effects both times only lasted a couple of days.
Although the side effects can be inconvenient, they’re generally short-lived and are a sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine.
In my opinion, they’re a small inconvenience compared with the possibility of developing shingles itself.
Could It Also Help Protect Against Dementia?
One particularly interesting area of research has emerged in recent years.
Several large studies have suggested that people who receive the shingles vaccine may have a lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who remain unvaccinated.
Researchers are still trying to understand exactly why.
Possible explanations include:
- Preventing shingles may reduce inflammation that could contribute to dementia.
- Vaccination may produce beneficial effects on the immune system.
- Preventing viral reactivation may help protect brain health.
It’s important to stress that Shingrix is not approved as a treatment or prevention for dementia, and more research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Nevertheless, the findings have attracted considerable interest within the medical community and provide another potentially encouraging reason to accept the vaccine when it’s offered.
Who Can Get the Vaccine?
The NHS is gradually expanding eligibility for Shingrix.
Currently, it is routinely offered to older adults as they reach the eligible age (70 in most cases) along with certain people who have weakened immune systems.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify, it’s worth asking your GP surgery or checking the NHS website.
Even if you’re not yet eligible, knowing about the vaccine means you can arrange to have it when the time comes.
- I’d also add, be sure to get both jabs, not just the first, as this will give you much better protection. If necessary, chase up your health provider if they haven’t called you back for your second vaccination after six months. I had to do this myself.
My Verdict
Having now completed both doses, I’m very pleased that I decided to have the vaccine.
Yes, I felt washed out for a couple of days afterwards.
But compared with the possibility of suffering weeks of severe pain – or months of lingering nerve damage – it seemed a very worthwhile trade-off.
And while the possible link with a reduced risk of dementia still needs further investigation, it’s certainly an intriguing bonus.
Final Thoughts
As we get older, prevention becomes increasingly important. Vaccination is one of the simplest and most effective ways of protecting our future health.
Shingles can be an extremely unpleasant illness with long-lasting consequences, but fortunately we now have a vaccine that offers excellent protection.
If you’re invited to have the Shingrix vaccine, my advice would be simple: take up the offer.
Your future self may well thank you.
Have Your Say
Have you had the shingles vaccine? Did you experience any side effects? Or have you unfortunately had shingles yourself?
Please share your experiences in the comments below. As always, I’d love to hear from you.