What are the side effects of shingles vaccine

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Shingles is a common disease — almost 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime. The good news is that the shingles vaccine, called Shingrix®, is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles.

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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) important?
What is shingles?
Who needs to get the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?
Who should not get the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?
What are the side effects of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?
Get vaccinated
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Is the second shingles vaccine worse than the first?
What are the negative side effects of the shingles vaccine?

Note: A shingles vaccine called zoster vaccine live (Zostavax) is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. If you had Zostavax in the past, you should still get Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix. Due to high demand, call your doctor’s office or pharmacy to make sure the Shingrix vaccine is available. To find a place to get vaccinated near you, use the vaccine finder

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) important?

Shingles causes a painful rash and blisters — and it can lead to serious complications. The most common complication is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a condition that causes burning pain that can last long after the shingles rash and blisters go away. The older you are when you get shingles, the more likely you are to develop PHN.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent shingles and PHN.

What is shingles?

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox, the chickenpox virus stays dormant (asleep) in your body. The virus can activate (wake up) years later and cause shingles.

Symptoms of shingles include:

A painful rash and blisters on 1 side of the face or body
Fever
Headache
Chills
Upset stomach

Shingles can’t spread from person to person like chickenpox. But if you have shingles, you can spread the virus to someone who isn’t immune to (protected from) chickenpox — meaning someone who hasn’t had chickenpox and isn’t vaccinated against it. If that happened, the person might get chickenpox — but not shingles. Learn more about shingles.

Who needs to get the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?

Adults age 50 and older
Adults 19 years and older who have a weakened immune system because of disease or treatments

You need to get 2 doses of Shingrix. You’ll need the second dose 2 to 6 months after the first dose. You need to get Shingrix even if you:

Have already had shingles
Have been vaccinated against shingles with Zostavax
Are not sure if you’ve had chickenpox

Talk with your doctor about how to protect yourself from shingles.

Who should not get the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?

You should not get Shingrix if you:

Have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix
Are not immune to the virus that causes chickenpox — if you test negative for immunity, you’ll need to get the chickenpox vaccine
Currently have shingles
Are pregnant or breastfeeding

If you’re sick and have a fever of 101.3°F or higher, you’ll need to wait until you’re feeling better to get the shingles vaccine.

What are the side effects of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix)?

Side effects are usually mild and go away in a few days. They may include:

Pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given
Headache
Feeling tired
Muscle pain
Shivering
Fever
Stomach pain or upset stomach

Serious side effects from the shingles vaccine are very rare.

Like any medicine, there's a very small chance that the shingles vaccine could cause a serious reaction. Keep in mind that getting the shingles vaccine is much safer than getting shingles. Learn more about vaccine side effects.

Get vaccinated

Getting vaccinated is easy. Vaccines are available at the doctor’s office and many pharmacies — and most are covered by insurance.

Find out how to get vaccinated.

Content created by Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)
Content last reviewed May 6, 2022

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Question:

What are common side effects after the shingles vaccine and how long do they last? How do I report a serious or unexpected vaccine reaction?

Answer:

The Shingrix® vaccine is very safe. Common side effects of the shingles vaccines include headache and soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site. Other reactions that may occur after getting Shingrix® include fever, muscle soreness, fatigue, shivering, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. According to the Canadian Immunization Guide, these reactions have been temporary, lasting 2-3 days in studies (clinical trials). You can take acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen* (e.g. Advil®) to help with fever or soreness after vaccination. Want to speak with a nurse about your vaccine side effects? Call HealthLinkBC at 811 anytime.

Reporting potential adverse events following immunization is a part of Canada's vaccine safety monitoring process. Contact the healthcare professional that provided the vaccine directly to make a report. If you don't know who provided the vaccine, you can contact your health unit and ask to speak with a nurse. Our BC health unit finder is here.

Is the second shingles vaccine worse than the first?

Shingrix is administered in two doses, usually two to six months apart. Shingrix is safe and effective for most people. Side effects from the second dose of Shingrix are somewhat more common than the first dose, although that's not always the case. Most side effects of Shingrix are mild and resolve on their own.