The shingles vaccine is strongly recommended for aging populations primarily because it provides powerful protection against shingles and its serious complications, which become increasingly common and severe as people get older. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus—the same virus that causes chickenpox—and it tends to resurface when the immune system weakens with age. The vaccine helps bolster the immune system’s ability to keep this virus in check, significantly reducing the risk of developing shingles and the painful, long-lasting nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
As people age, their immune systems naturally decline in function, a process called immune senescence. This weakening makes older adults more vulnerable to infections like shingles and less able to fight off the virus if it reactivates. The shingles vaccine, especially the newer two-dose vaccine called Shingrix, has been shown to be highly effective—about 97% effective in adults aged 50 to 69 and still about 91% effective in those 70 and older—in preventing shingles. It also reduces the risk of PHN by a similar margin, which is crucial because PHN can cause debilitating pain lasting months or even years after the rash heals.
Beyond preventing shingles itself, vaccination in older adults may also have broader health benefits. Emerging research suggests that the shingles vaccine may lower the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes by reducing inflammation linked to the virus. Since shingles involves inflammation of the nervous system, preventing it may help reduce systemic inflammation that contributes to these conditions. Additionally, some studies indicate that preventing shingles might also lower the risk of dementia, possibly by minimizing inflammation or viral effects on the brain.
Older adults often have multiple chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, which can worsen the outcomes of infections. Because shingles can trigger serious complications, including bacterial infections of the skin, vision loss if it affects the eye, and neurological problems, preventing shingles through vaccination is a critical step in protecting overall health and quality of life in aging populations.
The vaccine is safe and well-tolerated, with most side effects being mild and short-lived, such as soreness at the injection site or fatigue lasting a couple of days. Importantly, the vaccine is recommended even for those who have had shingles before or received the older vaccine version, as it provides stronger and longer-lasting immunity.
In summary, the shingles vaccine is recommended for people aged 50 and older because it effectively prevents a painful and potentially serious disease that disproportionately affects older adults due to their declining immune function. It also may help reduce risks of other age-related health problems linked to inflammation, making it a vital preventive measure to maintain health and well-being in later life.