Can you get shingles if you have had the shot

People who are older or have a weakened immune system are likely at higher risk of developing shingles during a COVID-19 illness.

Shingles is a painful skin condition that people can develop as they get older or if they have a weakened immune system. 

Any type of infection can stress the immune system and cause a shingles outbreak. The COVID-19 virus is no exception. Research continues to show a relationship between COVID-19 and shingles. 

There are also reports of people getting shingles after the COVID-19 vaccine. But how exactly are shingles and COVID-19 related? Let’s take a closer look at whether COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine can cause shingles.  

What is shingles?

Shingles is a painful rash that develops when the varicella zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox) gets reactivated. Before the chickenpox vaccine, many people had chickenpox in childhood. Shingles can lead to complications like long-term nerve pain and keratitis, a vision-threatening eye infection.

Even after people completely recover from chickenpox, the varicella virus can stay “asleep” (dormant) in the body by hiding in the spinal cord without causing any symptoms. But when the immune system gets weakened, the virus can “wake up” (reactivate) and cause shingles. 

Only people who’ve had chickenpox in the past can get shingles. In theory, people who’ve been vaccinated against chickenpox can develop shingles. But this doesn't happen very often. 

Can COVID-19 illness cause shingles?

The COVID-19 virus doesn’t cause shingles directly. But COVID-19 and shingles may be related. COVID-19 illness weakens the immune system, and that can give the zoster virus a chance to wake up and cause shingles. 

One study found that people who had serious COVID-19 illness were twice as likely to develop shingles.

Another study showed similar findings. In this study, people over the age of 50 were at highest risk for developing shingles after COVID-19 illness. 

Another very large study found that people older than 50 were 15% more likely to develop shingles if they had COVID-19 illness when compared to people of the same age who didn’t get COVID-19 illness. 

Scientists can’t say for sure that having COVID-19 increases everyone’s risk of developing shingles. But people who are older or have medical conditions that affect the immune system should be aware of this risk. 

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause shingles?

No. The COVID-19 vaccine does not cause shingles — only the varicella zoster virus causes shingles. But it’s not clear if COVID-19 vaccine can trigger a shingles outbreak.

There have been reports of people developing shingles after COVID-19 vaccination. But it’s unclear if these cases are just coincidence or if shingles is a real possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine.  

One study reviewed reports of people who developed shingles after the COVID-19 vaccine. The study found that many of these people had medical conditions that weakened their immune systems. In a study from Israel, everyone who got shingles after the COVID-19 vaccine was also taking immunosuppressive medications. 

If you have a weakened immune system or are taking immunosuppressive medication, you may be at increased risk for developing shingles after your COVID-19 vaccine. But keep in mind that you may also be at risk for developing shingles from COVID-19 illness.  

Does the COVID-19 vaccine protect against shingles?

The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t protect against shingles.

Different viruses cause shingles and COVID-19. So the same vaccine can’t protect against both viruses. 

But there is an effective vaccine against shingles. The CDC recommends the shingles vaccine for everyone over 50 years old. The CDC also recommends it for anyone over 19 years old who has a weakened immune system.

If you’re at higher risk for developing shingles from COVID-19 or the vaccine, it’s a good idea to keep your shingles vaccination up to date. You can get your shingles and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. 

How soon can you get the shingles vaccine after having COVID-19?

If you currently have COVID-19 illness, you may be able get your shingles vaccine as soon as your isolation period ends. And if you have shingles, you may be able to get your COVID-19 vaccine once you’re feeling better. 

It’s best to discuss the timing with your healthcare provider. If you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications, you may need to wait a bit longer before getting vaccinated. 

The bottom line

Shingles is a painful skin rash that’s caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. Shingles can be triggered by stress, illness, and a weakened immune system. There are reports of people getting shingles with COVID-19 illness and after the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Research shows that people who are older or have a weakened immune system are more likely to develop shingles with COVID-19 illness. Getting vaccinated against shingles can keep you safe from getting shingles. 

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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