in a healthy adult the shingles shot has not been shown to increase the risk of a shingles outbreak. in fact it lowers your risk of getting shingles by about half. and if you do get shingles you will be less likely to have post-herpetic neuralgia. this is the painful condition that can occur after the shingles rash is gone. since the vaccine is a weakened chickenpox virus the cdc recommends that people with weakened immune systems should not get the shingles shot. this includes people with aids or certain types of cancer. people who are on medications that suppress the immune system like long term steroids or some cancer medicines should also not take the vaccine. also women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not get the shingles shot. common side effects from the shot can include redness itching swelling and tenderness at the site of injection. according to the cdc these mild reactions occur in about 1 out of every 3 people who get the shot. about one in every 70 people will get a headache after getting the shot. rarely a mild rash may appear around the site of the shot that can look like chicken pox. the cdc recommends that everyone 60 and older gets the shingles vaccine. the fda has approved the vaccine for anyone over the age of 50. ask your doctor if the shingles vaccine is right for you.
i am 55. what % of getting shingles after getting shot (as a side effect). want to get the shot but not if i have a high risk of giving me shingles.