What are the side effects of the shingles vaccine?

Shingles is a common disease, affecting about one out of three adults during their lifetime. Shingles is most common among older adults. However, shingles can also occur in healthy younger adults and in children. Those with immune systems that have been weakened by HIV, AIDS, cancer or treatment with certain drugs are also at an increased risk of getting shingles. Shingles causes a painful rash and blisters and can lead to serious complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia. The best way to protect yourself against shingles is to get vaccinated.

The CDC recommends Shingrix to prevent shingles and complications associated with the disease. Shingrix, approved by the FDA in 2017, provides stronger protection against shingles compared to Zostavax. Zostavax was the first FDA-approved vaccine for shingles, and it is no longer available in the United States. An advantage to Shingrix is that it is a not a live virus vaccine. It is produced from part of the virus. Therefore, you can’t spread the virus to other people after getting a Shingrix vaccine.

You may experience some common side effects from the shingles vaccine. They’re usually mild to moderate in intensity and typically resolve quickly on their own within two to three days. In clinical studies of the shingles vaccine, about 1 in 10 adults reported some pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Some people also report experiencing muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering, fever and upset stomach after receiving the shingles vaccine.

Serious adverse events following the shingles vaccine are rare. In very rare cases, people have developed a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis to the shingles vaccine. You should not get Shingrix if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or if you’ve had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of Shingrix. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should wait to get the Shingrix vaccine.

After the Shingrix vaccine became available, the CDC and the FDA began monitoring its safety through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). In 2019, the CDC reported that VAERS detected no unexpected patterns of serious or long-term side effects. The CDC and FDA continuously monitor all vaccines through reports to VAERS for potential vaccine safety issues.

The shingles vaccine has been closely studied. It has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated. Common side effects for most vaccines are mild and include pain, swelling or redness where the shot was given. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about vaccine safety. Talk with your healthcare provider, including your pharmacist, about your health history, including past illnesses and treatments, as well as any allergies, to find out which vaccines are recommended for you.

Updated by Julie McDaniel, MSN, RN, CRNI, May 2025.