Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Your Complete Guide to the Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine: Benefits, Side Effects, and Key Information

What is the Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine?

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus can remain dormant in the nervous system and reactivate later in life, causing shingles. The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older to reduce the risk of developing shingles and its potentially severe complications, including postherpetic neuralgia, a condition that causes long-term nerve pain.