Shingles can be very painful, and some complications are serious and can cause long-term issues. Luckily, the shingles vaccine can really reduce your risk of getting shingles — and if you do get shingles, it may be shorter, milder, and less likely to cause complications.
We talked to six people who’ve gotten shingles in the past about why they encourage everyone to get the vaccine as soon as they’re eligible.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About shingles (herpes zoster).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Shingles vaccination.
Feldman, B. H., et al. (2023). Herpes zoster ophthalmicus. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Mandy Armitage, MDMandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.
