Unimpressed SHINGRIX party guests.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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  • WHAT IS SHINGLES, AND HOW CAN SHINGRIX HELP PROTECT AGAINST IT?

    Shingles typically presents as a painful skin rash caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox).1  SHINGRIX helps provide over 90%# protection against shingles for individuals aged 50 years and above.3,5

  • I FEEL HEALTHY - AM I REALLY AT RISK FOR SHINGLES?

    If you’re over 50 years of age and have had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles may be inside your body and can reactivate at any time. Around 1 in every 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime. No matter how healthy you feel, your immune system declines as you age, and that puts you at an increased risk for shingles.1,2,7,10-12,23

  • DOES MY RISK OF SHINGLES INCREASE AS I GET OLDER?

    Yes. Even if you feel healthy, your immune system declines as you age, and that puts you at an increased risk for shingles. In particular, a person’s risk for shingles increases sharply after 50 years of age. Around 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime.1,2,7,10-12

  • IS SHINGLES CONTAGIOUS?

    Shingles itself is not contagious. It can’t spread from one person to another. However, the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickepox, is contagious. People who never had chickenpox can get infected with varicella zoster virus from someone who has shingles.  Moreover, a person can spread the virus when the shingles rash is in the blister phase. It is important to keep the shingles rash covered until the blisters form a crust.23

  • HOW EFFECTIVE IS SHINGRIX?

    In a clinical trial, SHINGRIX was over 90% effective at preventing shingles across 7344 individuals 50 years and older who received both doses of the vaccine.3,5  SHINGRIX helps to offer sustained protection against shingles up to year 11.5-6,16-17

  • HOW MANY DOSES OF SHINGRIX DO I NEED TO RECEIVE, AND WHEN?

    SHINGRIX is a 2 dose vaccine - an initial dose is given followed by a second dose 2 to 6 months later. If you have a weakened immune system there may be a shorter period of time between doses.3

  • HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER EACH DOSE?

    After receiving SHINGRIX, you may experience: pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever, stomach and digestive complaints (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or stomach pain) and joint pain.3,21

  • CAN I RECEIVE SHINGRIX WHILE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?

    SHINGRIX has not been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.3,21

  • CAN I RECEIVE SHINGRIX IF I'VE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19?

    SHINGRIX can be administered alongside certain other vaccines.2,3  Talk to your healthcare professional for more details.

  • CAN I RECEIVE SHINGRIX IF I'VE BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST THE FLU?

    SHINGRIX can be administered alongside certain other vaccines.2,3  Talk to your healthcare professional for more details.