Should a 70 year old get the shingles vaccine?

Yes, a 70-year-old should get the shingles vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends the Shingrix vaccine for all healthy adults aged 50 and older, and there is no maximum age limit for getting it.

What are the chances of getting shingles after 70?

The risk of developing shingles increases as you age. About half of all shingles cases are in adults age 60 or older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much greater by age 70. Trouble fighting infections.

What is the downside of taking the shingles vaccine?

The most common side effects of a shingles vaccine are headaches and pain, soreness, swelling and itching where the shot was given. On white skin, the area might look red. On Black or brown skin the redness might be harder to see.

Do people over 70 need the shingles vaccine?

Vaccination is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in adults 50 years and older with healthy immune systems. Adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk of complications and should also get vaccinated.

Is it really necessary to get the shingles vaccine?

Yes, the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) is highly recommended and considered necessary by health authorities like the CDC for most adults 50 and older, and younger adults with weakened immune systems, as it's the best way to prevent the painful disease and its complications like long-term nerve pain (PHN). Even if you've had shingles before or don't recall having chickenpox, the two-dose vaccine provides strong, lasting protection, reducing risk by over 90%.
 

Should Elderly Get Shingles Vaccine? - Elder Care Support Network

Why are doctors pushing the shingles vaccine?

The large clinical trial that the agency based its approval on showed that the vaccine halved the risk of getting shingles. Even more impressive, it cut by two-thirds the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia, the aftermath of shingles that develops in about one in every three cases in people age 60 and over.

Is the shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of dementia?

Yes, multiple recent studies suggest the shingles vaccine (both Zostavax and the newer Shingrix) is linked to a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, particularly vascular dementia, with some findings showing up to a 20-50% risk reduction and potential benefits for slowing existing dementia progression. Researchers hypothesize this may be due to reducing reactivation of the virus or improving overall immune function, with findings suggesting benefits for heart health and brain health.
 

How long do shingles last in a 70 year old?

The shingles rash usually appears a few days after the pain begins and lasts for about a week, but the pain can last much longer. And the older you are, the more likely you are to have long-lasting pain. In some cases, the pain persists for several months or even years – this is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

What vaccines should people over 70 get?

Vaccinations and Older Adults

• Which vaccines do older adults need?
• COVID-19 vaccines.
• Flu vaccine for older adults.
• RSV vaccine for older adults.
• Vaccines to help prevent pneumonia.
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines.
• Shingles vaccine for older adults.
• Travel vaccines.

Why is the shingles vaccine given at 70?

Whilst the vaccine is authorised for use from age 50 years and is effective in this age group, the burden of shingles disease is generally not as severe compared with older ages, the duration of protection and need for reinforcing doses of vaccine are not known and the most cost effective age to offer the vaccine ...

What is the controversy with the Shingrix vaccine?

In a post-marketing observational study in individuals aged 65 years or older, an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (estimated 3 excess cases per million doses administered) was observed during the 42 days following vaccination with Shingrix.

What are alternative ways to prevent shingles?

The most effective way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Shingrix for all healthy adults 50 years and older, regardless of whether they've had shingles before. Shingrix was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017.

What is the main trigger for shingles?

The main cause of shingles is the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox, which stays dormant in your nerve cells after a chickenpox infection and can reawaken later in life due to a weakened immune system, especially with increasing age or certain illnesses. You don't catch shingles; it's your own dormant virus coming back to life, often triggered by age, stress, or conditions that compromise immunity.
 

What vitamin are you lacking with shingles?

Vitamin deficiencies, particularly Vitamin D and B12, are linked to shingles, with low B12 potentially worsening nerve pain and Vitamin D deficiency affecting immunity, though some large studies show mixed results on whether low D causes shingles, while other nutrients like Zinc, Vitamin C, and Lysine may help manage symptoms. Focusing on immune-boosting foods rich in these vitamins and minerals during an outbreak is beneficial.
 

How painful are shingles on a scale of 1 to 10?

Shingles pain is often rated high on the 1-to-10 scale, with many patients reporting levels from 6 to 10 (severe), describing it as intense burning, stabbing, or electric-shock-like pain, though it can range from mild itching to debilitating agony, often made worse by touch or even a light breeze. It's considered one of the most painful conditions, with pain peaking days after symptoms start, and can persist as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) even after the rash clears.
 

What is the injection for 75 to 80 years old?

The RSV vaccine helps protect against infection with RSV, a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. It's offered on the NHS if you're pregnant, aged 75 to 79, or turned 80 after 1 September 2024.

Can you still get shingles after getting the shot?

Yes, you can still get shingles after getting the vaccine, but the vaccine (Shingrix) is highly effective (over 90%) at preventing it and significantly reduces symptom severity, duration, and the risk of long-term complications like nerve pain (PHN) if you do get it. No vaccine is 100% effective, so while a breakthrough case is possible, it's usually milder and shorter than for unvaccinated people. 

What is the 3 2 1 rule for vaccines?

Lumps that persist for more than 3 months, are larger than 2 cm in diameter or continue to increase in size 1 month after vaccination (the '3-2-1 rule') should be evaluated by fine needle-aspiration or collection of incisional wedge biopsy samples (Scherk et al., 2013; Hartmann et al., 2015; Jas et al., 2021; Hartmann ...

What triggers shingles in seniors?

Shingles in the elderly is caused by the reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster), triggered mainly by age-related weakening of the immune system (immunosenescence). This decline makes it harder for the body to keep the virus inactive in nerve tissues, allowing it to travel and cause the painful, blistering rash. Factors like stress, certain medications (steroids), diseases (cancer, HIV, diabetes), and recent trauma also compromise immunity, increasing risk.
 

What is the first symptom of shingles?

The first symptom of shingles is usually pain, tingling, burning, or itching in a specific area of skin (like the torso or face) days before a rash appears, often accompanied by flu-like feelings such as fever, headache, or fatigue, with the characteristic red, blistered rash developing 1-3 days later.
 

What vitamin cuts dementia risk by 40%?

A large study found that older adults who took vitamin D had a 40% lower chance of developing dementia than those who didn't. You can get vitamin D from food like fish, eggs, and vitamin D-fortified milk.

What is the number one trigger for dementia?

The number one risk factor for dementia is age, with risk doubling every five years after 65, but the leading preventable trigger identified is heavy alcohol consumption, especially for early-onset dementia, responsible for significant cases. Other key factors include genetics, hypertension, head injuries, lack of exercise, depression, and certain medications, all impacting brain health over time. 

Are shingles linked to Alzheimer's?

No link between shingles and dementia risk.