Q: There was an article in the paper about the new vaccine for shingles. It doesn’t say if people who have had shingles need the new vaccine. Do you need the vaccine if you’ve already had shingles?
—Toni Wickham, Acworth
A: Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends doing so. Information about the shingles vaccine on the CDC website states: "Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease."
“There is no specific length of time you must wait after having shingles before receiving shingles vaccine, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated,” according to the CDC. “The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your healthcare provider.”
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on Oct. 25 that Shingrix is the preferred vaccine and recommended for healthy adults aged 50 years and older. It also is recommended for adults who previously received Zostavax — the current shingles vaccine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 20 licensed Shingrix for adults aged 50 years and older to prevent shingles.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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