Zostavax®, the shingles vaccine, reduced the risk of shingles by 51% and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67% based on a large study of more than 38,000 adults aged 60 years or older. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html
Shingles vaccination. A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease is available on the NHS to certain people in their 70s. The shingles vaccine is given as a single injection into the upper arm. Unlike the flu jab, you'll only need to have the vaccination once and you can have it at any time of the year.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/shingles-vaccination.aspx
However, there are no documented cases of the varicella-zoster virus being transmitted from adults vaccinated with the shingles vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/expert-answers/shingles-vaccine/FAQ-20058137
Varicella-zoster vaccines are recommended for children age 12 months and older to prevent chickenpox and for adults age 60 and older to prevent shingles, but the formulations are different, and the vaccines are not interchangeable.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/expert-answers/shingles-vaccine/FAQ-20058137
Zostavax decreases the chance of getting shingles by 50% and decreases the chance of permanent pain if you do get the rash by 70%. Zostavax is a single shallow subcutaneous injection and is not repeated. This is a live vaccine, so cannot be given to someone who already has a suppressed immune system. The main side effect is irritation at the injection site and a 2% chance of a flu like syndrome. Zostavax cannot be used to treat an active shingles infection. If you do get shingles, contact your doctor immediately.
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/08/shingles-vaccine-doctor-explains.html
However, if you develop a rash after you get the shingles vaccine, always take the precaution of keeping the rash covered until all the bumps crust over. To develop shingles, you have to catch chickenpox first, which typically happens in childhood.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/expert-answers/shingles-vaccine/FAQ-20058137
However, if an adult age 60 years or older is tested for varicella immunity for whatever reason, and the test is negative, he/she should be given 2 doses of varicella vaccine at least 4 weeks apart, not zoster vaccine. See www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/hcp-vaccination.htm for more information.
http://immunize.org/askexperts/experts_zos.asp
You are eligible for the shingles vaccine if you were aged 70 or 78 years old on 1 September 2016. In addition, anyone who was eligible for immunisation in the previous three years of the programme but missed out on their shingles vaccination remains eligible until their 80th birthday.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/shingles-vaccination.aspx
The best solution is the shingles vaccine. Manufactured and sold as Zostavax, the vaccine is recommended by the CDC for use by healthy people 60 years or older. The ACIP recommends it for anyone 60 or more who has previously had shingles, had any chronic medical condition or lives in a long term care facility.
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/08/shingles-vaccine-doctor-explains.html
However, a recent case of shingles is expected to boost the person's immunity to varicella. Zoster vaccine is also intended to boost immunity to varicella. Administering zoster vaccine to a person whose immunity was recently boosted by a case of shingles might reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.
http://immunize.org/askexperts/experts_zos.asp
who needs the shingles vaccinations
People who aged 70 need the shingles vaccinations.