For example, recent data from the United Kingdom has found that, compared to unvaccinated individuals, the risk of hospitalization with the Omicron variant is 65 percent and 81 percent lower in people whove had 2 doses and 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. A COVID-19 vaccine might cause an autoimmune flare-up. Lets take a closer look at whether COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine can cause shingles. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. How long should I wait after giving the first dose of Shingrix to give the second dose? Of those 414 cutaneous reactions, shingles was seen in 1 of 34 receiving first Pfizer vaccine (2.9% of cutaneous reactions) and 4 of 40 . Last medically reviewed on October 14, 2022. Research shows that getting shingles after COVID-19 vaccines predominantly links with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including the ones that Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna produce. Can poor sleep impact your weight loss goals? But there is an effective vaccine against shingles. Key Takeaways CDC officials now say it's OK to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Reactivation of herpes zoster virus after COVID-19 vaccination: Is there any association? (2021). Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, have had shingles previously Shingrix can help prevent, received an older shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is no longer available in the United States, You have no immunity to chickenpox, which means you should get the, redness, swelling, or soreness where you got your shot, people with specific health conditions such as. Example video title will go here for this video. Like these viruses, VZV can lie dormant in your nerves after an initial infection. Is shingles contagious, and how does a person contract it. Diez-Domingo J, et al. Prof Booy said severity increases with age and suggested anyone over 50 consider the shingles jab when enquiring about flu, COVID or pneumococcal vaccines heading into winter. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, Juliette Cubanski Read more about who can have the shingles vaccine. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/shingrix. In this study, people over the age of 50 were at highest risk for developing shingles after COVID-19 illness. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Birabaharan M, et al. If the events are related, they will only occur in individuals with dormant VZV from a previous case of chickenpox or shingles. The CDC recommends the shingles vaccine for everyone over 50 years old. After this matching, they observed no increased risk of shingles between the two groups. Some experts recommend that it can be a good idea for people with autoimmune diseases to get the COVID-19 vaccine. A narrative review. Some individuals may also develop health issues that continue for weeks or months. After the vaccine, a person's immunity stays strong for at least 7 years. 02 Mar 2023 20:18:45 A 2022 study compared people who visited a clinic to receive an mRNA vaccine with an unvaccinated group of people who visited a health clinic for any other reason. When this happens, it moves down the nerves until it reaches the skin, leading to the characteristic shingles rash. Do you need to get booster doses? They found that many people who got shingles after their vaccine had existing factors that can increase the likelihood of developing shingles. Intervals shorter than 5 years have not been studied. pic.twitter.com/CPfX5jiDSw. The CDC guidelines state that the COVID-19 vaccine may be given without regard to the timing of other vaccines. health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health History of Vaccines. Also, consider getting the Shingrix vaccine if you've had the Zostavax vaccine in the past, or if you don't know whether you've had chickenpox. We avoid using tertiary references. There have been reports of people developing shingles after COVID-19 vaccination. Page last reviewed: 31 August 2021 You shouldnt receive the shingles vaccine if: Having a mild illness like a cold isnt a reason to not get your shingles vaccine. You can get your shingles and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. Can you get time off if you work to come back in? Saraiva AL, et al. Itchy Throat: Could It Be COVID-19 or Something Else? Can SARS-CoV-2 vaccine increase the risk of reactivation of varicella zoster? But the differences we observed in the percent of beneficiaries in different racial and ethnic groups, different age cohorts, and different income levels who received the second dose of Shingrix also underscore the challenges ahead in inoculating vulnerable populations against COVID-19. Heart failure: Could a low sodium diet sometimes do more harm than good? According to the CDC, the shingles vaccine is very effective: it's more than 90% effective in preventing shingles in adults over 50 years of age with healthy immune systems. A different 2021 research review noted that most cases of shingles happen 1 to 2 weeks after having COVID-19 and have a typical presentation. RELATED: VERIFY: Should you wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you're currently sick? Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. A: Shingles vaccination is an essential preventive care service for older adults that should not be delayed or discontinued because of the COVID-19 pandemic, unless a patient is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. In this Special Feature, we look at why some people want to 'detox' COVID-19 vaccines and whether this is safe or even possible. Should you avoid getting other vaccines right before or after getting your COVID shot? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine advisory group today recommended that that the agency approve GSK's RSV vaccine for people 60 and older, a day after it recommended Pfizer's RSV vaccine for the same age-group.. After chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve cells. You should not have the shinglesvaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (including an anaphylactic reaction)in the pastto a previous dose of the shingles vaccine, or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine, or to a previous dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Antivirals that can treat shingles include: Additionally, there are many home remedies people can try to help alleviate discomfort. Patients can sign up on the Shingrix website to receive a second dose reminder, but doing so requires knowledge and action by patients. Some may experience fatigue, headache, and fever. This means you dont have to wait to receive your COVID-19 and shingles vaccinations. Six months later she died from a vegetation that grew on her heart. (2021). If you currently have COVID-19 illness, you may be able get your shingles vaccine as soon as your isolation period ends. Some studies suggest a link between COVID-19 vaccines and reactivation of the virus that causes shingles. For more information, see CDCs Vaccination Guidance During a Pandemic. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. The CDC agrees -- right now its at least a two-week waiting period on both ends. (2021). However, if you have a moderate to severe illness or a fever of 101.3 or higher, you should recover before getting your shingles vaccine. Because shingles may be brought on by intense stress, you can also explore ways to reduce stress in your daily life. However, research suggests it may occur when something weakens the immune system, prompting the virus to reactivate. These can include cool oatmeal baths, using calamine lotion, and trying to avoid stress. **In pre-licensure clinical studies involving 4,886 participants aged 50 and older who received Shingrix, the following side effects were reported after vaccination: myalgia (44.7%), fatigue (44.5%), headache (37.7%), shivering (26.8%), fever (20.5%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (17.3%) See the FDA prescribing informationexternal icon for additional information. If a patient experiences side effects, any local (e.g., redness, pain, swelling at the injection site) or systemic (e.g., fever, chills, headache, body aches) reactions normally resolve within 72 hours after vaccination. An itchy throat can happen with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Additionally, the vaccine cannot cause a person to acquire shingles. But COVID-19 and shingles may be related. The COVID-19 vaccine doesnt protect against shingles. Counseling about potential side effects is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, since some shingles vaccination side effects** may be similar to symptoms of COVID-19. I would also like to sign up for a free GoodRx account. Note: A shingles vaccine called zoster vaccine live (Zostavax) is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. This may be up to 1 year. It may happen due to immune dysfunction that occurs from COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Follow @tricia_neuman on Twitter GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. So the recommendation is to not get any vaccine to at least two weeks before your COVID vaccine," Mahgoub said. But its unclear if these cases are just coincidence or if shingles is a real possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. While this is possible, its still uncommon. What to know about recovering from shingles. FAQs for the interim clinical considerations. When you're eligible, you can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year. Shingles is a common disease almost 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime. Shingles is a painful rash that develops when the varicella zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox) gets reactivated. How Long Does the Omicron Variant Last on Surfaces? Furthermore, a 2021 paper on older adults and a 2021 case series on people with an autoimmune condition highlight cases of shingles following COVID-19 vaccination. Shingles is also called herpes zoster. Share on Facebook. https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview.html. Juliette Cubanski and Tricia Neuman are with KFF. One study found that people who had serious COVID-19 illness were twice as likely to develop shingles. There are reports of people getting shingles with COVID-19 illness and after the COVID-19 vaccine. By providing your email address, you agree to receive emails containing coupons, refill reminders and promotional messages from GoodRx. (2022). NewsRescue Two Republican congressmen from Georgia have pressed the Biden administration for answers in response to the various issues encountered by COVID vaccine recipients who are now attempting to navigate the US Department of Health and Human Services' vaccine injury program. A few examples of things to look into include: While all the things above can help lower stress levels, they may not absolutely prevent you from getting shingles.