Zostavax (Zoster Vaccine Live) Recommendations

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This page was archived upon the discontinuation of the sale and use of Zostavax in the United States, effective November 18, 2020. The information below is for historical record and use only.

A new shingles vaccine called Shingrix was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017. CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of Shingrix, 2 to 6 months apart. Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax.

For the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), see Zoster (Shingles) ACIP Vaccine Recommendations.

Routine Vaccination of People 60 Years Old and Older

CDC recommends a single dose of Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live) for people 60 years old or older, whether or not the person reported a prior episode of herpes zoster (shingles). People with chronic medical conditions may be vaccinated unless a contraindication or precaution exists for their condition. Zostavax is a live virus vaccine. It can be administered concurrently with all other live and inactivated vaccines, including those routinely recommended for people 60 years old and older, such as influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.

When vaccinating people 60 years old or older, there is no need to screen for a history of varicella (chickenpox) infection or to conduct laboratory testing for serologic evidence of prior varicella infection. Even if a person reports that they have not had varicella, they can still receive the herpes zoster vaccine. The Zostavax® zoster vaccine package insert [12 pages] makes no reference to varicella history, and almost all people 60 years old or older are immune to varicella. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) states that people born in the United States prior to 1980 are considered immune to varicella. If serologic evidence of varicella susceptibility becomes available to the healthcare provider, the patient should be offered varicella vaccine not herpes zoster vaccine.

Herpes zoster vaccine should be given regardless of a history of herpes zoster. Herpes zoster does recur, and there is no biological or epidemiological evidence to indicate that persons are at reduced risk for herpes zoster for any period of time following a prior occurrence of the disease. There are no recognized safety concerns in giving the vaccine to people with prior history of herpes zoster.

The general guideline for any vaccine is to wait until the acute stage of the illness is over and symptoms abate.

Vaccination of People 50 through 59 Years Old

Zostavax is approved by FDA for people age 50 years and older. However, CDC does not recommend routine use of this vaccine in people age 50 through 59 years. Healthcare providers considering the herpes zoster vaccine for certain persons in age ranges should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their patients. Although the vaccine has short-term efficacy, there have been no long-term studies of vaccine protection in this age group. In adults vaccinated at age 60 years or older, vaccine efficacy wanes within the first 5 years after vaccination, and protection beyond 5 years is uncertain; therefore, adults receiving the vaccine before age 60 years might not be protected when their risks for herpes zoster and its complications are highest.

Also, healthcare providers may want to first consider whether the patients 50 to 59 years old would have poor tolerance to herpes zoster or postherpetic neuralgia symptoms. For example, if the patient has

  • preexisting chronic pain, severe depression, or other co-morbidities,
  • intolerance to treatment medications due to hypersensitivity or interactions with other medications, or
  • extenuating employment-related factors.

No data are available about the effectiveness of herpes zoster vaccine in adults who become immunosuppressed after their vaccination.

Contraindications and Precautions for Shingles Vaccination

Zostavax should not be administered to:

  • A person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of herpes zoster vaccine.
  • A person who has a weakened immune system because of:
    • HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,
    • treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,
    • cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, or
    • cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
  • Women who are or might be pregnant. Women should not become pregnant until at least 4 weeks after getting herpes zoster vaccine.

Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

This information was taken from the Shingles Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) dated 10/06/2009.

Learn more about general vaccine contraindications and precautions.

For more information on herpes zoster and immunization, visit:

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