Do you need the shingles vaccine if you've never had chicken pox?

[Anonymous]

I'm in my fifties and by some miracle I never got chicken pox as a child. I did get the chicken pox vaccine (twice) as an adult.

My question: Do I need to get vaccinated against shinges or is it unnecessary? I ask because I know that the Shingrix vaccine, while very effective, can also pack a wallop in terms of side effects, some of which resemble COVID symptoms (and who needs the stress of worrying whether they have COVID right now?)

My primary care doc didn't give a clear answer, other than to say, basically, "Just get the shot and then you don't have to worry about it." I can see that logic, and it's abundantly clear that getting the Shingrix shot is far preferable to ever having shingles.

Still, I'd kind of like to know the answer. Anyone else ever been in a similar circumstance? What did you do?

[Anonymous]

I think this will answer your question and it's from a reputable source:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-you-get-shingles-if-you-havent-had-chickenpox/

[Anonymous]

Yes.
Both natural chicken pox infection and the varicella vaccine make you susceptible to shingles.

[Anonymous]

No. You can get your titers checked to insure immunity from chicken pox if you want peace of mind. The first varicella vax is 70% protection, the second brings it up to 90%. If you haven't had chicken pix, you can't get shingles.

[Anonymous]

Something like 95% of people who grew up before the chickenpox vaccine was given to children (so everyone in their 50’s) have been infected with varicella, even if they never had symptoms. Chances are very high that you did have a varicella infection at some point in your life. Getting a varicella vaccine later is not protective against shingles.
I just got the shingrix vaccine and it really was not that bad - one day of fatigue & feeling achy. Even if dose #2 is worse, it’ll still be better than shingles.

[Anonymous]

My mother said the shingles vaccine was the worst vaccine she’s ever received and she’s prior military with shots needed to deploy (anthrax and such). She is not getting the second dose. She’s a tough woman and she was unable to do anything for a few days.

[Anonymous]

I am not anti vaccine in any way, however, my neighbor, a very healthy 55 year old, got the shingles vaccine 2 weeks ago and has been hospitalized with Guilaine-Barre paralysis since the day following the shot. It came on very quickly and it was very severe. Just today the news is that he is pulling through, though likely a long rehab. I realize it is rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not anti vaccine in any way, however, my neighbor, a very healthy 55 year old, got the shingles vaccine 2 weeks ago and has been hospitalized with Guilaine-Barre paralysis since the day following the shot. It came on very quickly and it was very severe. Just today the news is that he is pulling through, though likely a long rehab. I realize it is rare.

I am so sorry to hear that.

My DH had shingles itself and it is a miserable disease also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something like 95% of people who grew up before the chickenpox vaccine was given to children (so everyone in their 50’s) have been infected with varicella, even if they never had symptoms. Chances are very high that you did have a varicella infection at some point in your life. Getting a varicella vaccine later is not protective against shingles.
I just got the shingrix vaccine and it really was not that bad - one day of fatigue & feeling achy. Even if dose #2 is worse, it’ll still be better than shingles.

I’m like OP. I’m 46. Never had chicken pox. Got vaccinated during college. The. 13 years before trying to conceive my OB took my titers and I had none. Got vaccinated again. Hope it sticks this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother said the shingles vaccine was the worst vaccine she’s ever received and she’s prior military with shots needed to deploy (anthrax and such). She is not getting the second dose. She’s a tough woman and she was unable to do anything for a few days.

My mom had the old shingles shot(s) which were not as effective as Shingrex, and she ended up getting the shingles. It can damage your nerves and give you nerve pain. Her arm would be in terrible pain due to damaged nerves. Some people recover and some don't. I watched this and she was screaming in pain, and she's a tough woman.

Then, it ended up going to her brain and she almost died of encephilitis. There is a anti-viral for that, so she recovered.

Watching all that, I got the Shingrex shots when I turned 50, and my DH did the same. It was not that bad, IMO, so I guess people react differently. I want to encourage everyone to get this shot.

[Anonymous]

If you've had shingles, do you still need the vaccine when you're older? I had it when I was 36 (so nearly 10 years ago), which I found so odd because I didn't think young people got it, but I had it after a miscarriage and my doctor thought it was brought on by stress. Truly awful. I'd get the vaccine in the heartbeat. Can't be worse than the virus itself.

[Anonymous]

I had chicken pox as a child and received the shingles vaccine. I recently had shingles after COVID. It was a mild case though. I had the earlier shingles shot that was not as effective as the one being given now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've had shingles, do you still need the vaccine when you're older? I had it when I was 36 (so nearly 10 years ago), which I found so odd because I didn't think young people got it, but I had it after a miscarriage and my doctor thought it was brought on by stress. Truly awful. I'd get the vaccine in the heartbeat. Can't be worse than the virus itself.

If you've had shingles, you most definitely need the vaccine.

Just to add to the anecdata collection, I had shingrix with nothing beyond a sore arm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. You can get your titers checked to insure immunity from chicken pox if you want peace of mind. The first varicella vax is 70% protection, the second brings it up to 90%. If you haven't had chicken pix, you can't get shingles.

The varicella vaccine does not protect against chicken pox.
If you have had the varicella vaccine and never had chicken pox you can still get Shingles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've had shingles, do you still need the vaccine when you're older? I had it when I was 36 (so nearly 10 years ago), which I found so odd because I didn't think young people got it, but I had it after a miscarriage and my doctor thought it was brought on by stress. Truly awful. I'd get the vaccine in the heartbeat. Can't be worse than the virus itself.

Yes. My mom got the shingles vaccine after getting shingles.