Shavonda Thomas, MD, MPH; Erlanger Community Health CentersQ: What is shingles, and should I get vaccinated?
A: Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This same virus causes chicken pox early in life. Although there aren’t many cases of chicken pox now, many adults experienced it as a child and are at increased risk of contracting shingles and the painful nerve pain associated with it.
The shingles vaccine decreases this risk and is recommended for all adults age 60 or older, whether you’ve had chicken pox or not. Additionally, if you’ve already had shingles, you should still get the vaccine. There are special cases in which the vaccine shouldn’t be administered, so always discuss the risks and benefits with your primary-care provider.
– Shavonda Thomas, MD, MPH; Erlanger Community Health Centers; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.