My mother-in-law (76) suffered from shingles in Feb/Mar 2025. She was 'so surprised' to get it. She had to monitor the flare since it was near her eye. When asked whether she got the vaccine her response was similar 'Ohh, I didn't get the second dose." I will echo that she described it as very painful and upsetting. It also risked her not being able to go on a family vacation with her grandkids. So I implore everyone in this age range to get the vaccine. My husband and I had limited empathy given she is an adult and CHOSE not to complete the vaccine protocol.

I've had shingles twice and have looked but found no research on whether it makes sense to get the vaccine. Clearly I already carry the virus.

I know someone who lost an eye to shingles, so that was all the encouragement I needed to get the vax.

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine made me very ill. I'm not getting the second dose.

All vaccines make me ill,.but it's better than the alternative.

I watched my grandmother have shingles of.the eye and face.

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine made me very ill. I'm not getting the second dose.

IDK PP, that sounds idiotic to me but you do you.

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine made me very ill. I'm not getting the second dose.

Why go through the illness of the first dose to just quit before you get the full benefit?

Even without the dementia aspect, it is worth getting the vaccine. Shingles can be extremely painful.

I had no significant side effects from either dose, nor did my spouse.

+100

Get your shingrix.

You do not want shingles!

My DH and I got this like the minute we both turned 50. My grandfather was an incredibly healthy man who lived into his mid-90s and the only health issue he ever had was shingles - had a horrible bout in his early 70s.

Anonymous wrote:Once you’ve had the two shots, are you set for life? Or, must you get a booster again at age X?

The CDC says you don't need another after the first two shots. However, you should talk to your PCP about it.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/two-dose-shingles-vaccine-is-still-highly-effective-after-four-years

Once you’ve had the two shots, are you set for life? Or, must you get a booster again at age X?

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine made me very ill. I'm not getting the second dose.

For me, the second shot was barely noticeable compared to the first.

The vaccine made me very ill. I'm not getting the second dose.

I heard the same thing and my brain immediately screamed correlation is not causation.

“It’s unclear exactly how the shingles vaccine might influence dementia risk. It may reduce inflammation, support the immune system in ways that protect the brain or involve other mechanisms. It’s important to note that this study looked at the Zostavax vaccine rather than Shingrix, which is now more commonly used.

The studied vaccine is not Shingrix and without a mechanism of action, there's little reason to believe Shingrix would have the same effect.

IMHO, those already suffering from early stages of dementia are less likely to get shingles vaccines because they already have impaired decision making skills. They can't weigh the known short-term side effects against unknown long-term negative outcomes.

Wanted to start a separate thread on this so folks would see it.

I'm a retired attorney who now works as a caregiver and have cared for a number of disabled and elder patients in recent years who suffered from shingles outbreaks, some repeatedly and some suffering from the not uncommon complication of persistent nerve damage (postherpetic neuralgia) for the remainder of their lives which caused significant pain and diminishment of quality of life in their final years.

Shingles can also cause blindness, deafness, paralysis, pneumonia and even in rare cases death - so it's nothing to shrug off.

But now we have substantial evidence that getting the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing dementia by substantial numbers, so there is a bonus benefit to enduring the side effects of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible (age 50).

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/02/study-finds-strongest-evidence-yet-that-shingles-vaccine-helps-cut-dementia-risk