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Shingles

When Should You Get the Shingles Vaccine?

The CDC has some guidelines about getting the shingles vaccine, but don’t forget to consult your doctor.

Lauren Smith, MASanjai Sinha, MD
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Updated on July 2, 2025
Featuring Peter DeMarco, MDReviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD | July 2, 2025

There are many benefits to getting the shingles vaccine as soon as you’re eligible. 

“We found that getting the vaccine starting at age 50 can hopefully prevent as many complications or shingles outbreaks as possible,” says Peter DeMarco, MD, Family Medicine Physician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

If you have a condition or take a medication that suppresses the immune system, you may be eligible before age 50.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Administering Shingrix.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Shingles (herpes zoster): About shingles (herpes zoster).

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Reviewed by:
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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