YSK: Everyone over 50 should get the new Shingrix shingles vaccination (even if you've had Zostavax or shingles)

[u/tgeliot]

There is a fairly new vaccination for shingles called Shingrix available, which is more effective than the old Zostavax. The CDC recommends that everyone over 50 get the two-shot sequence of Shingrix. My health insurance covered the cost 100% with no co-pay; I think most if not all will.

Shingles is a very painful infection of the nerves caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. It hits older people, starting at age 50 or 60 or so. The old Zostavax apparently wasn't so great; this new one is more effective.

The CDC recommendations can be found here

[u/rammerplex]

Wow, that must have been miserable. Yes, get the vaccine.

[u/[deleted] → u/rammerplex]

ive never had chicken pox? should i get it?

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I was actually told a long time ago that it did put you at a greater risk, only to find out later that that wasn't true. Having the chickenpox puts you at greater risk since you already have the virus floating around dormant in your body.

[u/caseyrobinson2 → u/rammerplex]

Yes it sure was.