Shingles Vaccination Guidelines

Safety and Efficacy

Varicella-like rash at the injection site occurs in approximately 3% of vaccine recipients after the first dose and 1% after the second dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines 1
Non-localized rash (widespread) occurs in about 5.5% of recipients after the first injection but drops significantly to 0.9% after the second dose, as reported by the CDC 1
Rashes typically appear 7-21 days after vaccination and are generally self-limiting, as stated by the CDC 1
The incidence of systemic clinical complaints, such as fever, is lower after the second dose of varicella vaccine compared to the first dose, with fever incidence from days 7-21 being 7% after dose 1 and 4% after dose 2, in a population of individuals receiving two doses of the vaccine, with an intervention of a second dose, and outcomes of reduced incidence of systemic clinical complaints 1
No serious vaccine-related adverse events were reported in clinical trials of second-dose varicella vaccination, in a population of individuals receiving a second dose of the vaccine, with an intervention of a second dose, and outcomes of no serious adverse events 1

The standard recommendation for adolescents aged 13 years and older who have not been previously vaccinated is two doses of single-antigen varicella vaccine with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses, according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines, in a population of adolescents, with an intervention of two doses of the vaccine, and outcomes of immunity against varicella 2
Injection site complaints are slightly higher after dose 2 (25.4%) than after dose 1 (21.7%), in a population of individuals receiving two doses of the vaccine, with an intervention of a second dose, and outcomes of increased injection site complaints 1