Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox, the herpes zoster virus. Once you have the virus, it remains in your body and can become active again later in live where it develops into shingles. 

Of the 95% of adults who have had chicken pox, around one quarter will go on to develop shingles and this risk increases as we age. The virus may become active again when your immune system weakens due to increasing age, stress and certain conditions or treatments such as for HIV or cancer.

Shingles presents as a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clear up within 2 to 4 weeks.

Before the rash appears, people often have pain, itching or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. This often happens several days before the rash appears.

Besides the rash other symptoms of shingles include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach. 

The shingles vaccine not only helps reduce your risk of developing shingles, but it can lessen the severity and duration of any symptoms if you do, as well as cutting your risk of developing shingles complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

There are currently two shingles vaccinations available in Ireland. Zostavax is a live vaccine given as a single dose and Shingrix is a recombinant vaccine given in two doses. 

Studies have shown that, four months after two doses of Shingrix vaccine, its efficacy at preventing shingles is:

• 100% in those ages 50 to 69 years
• 93% in those aged 70 to 79 years
• 71% in those aged 80 years and older

Studies have shown that three months after one dose of Zostavax vaccine, its efficacy at preventing shingles is:

• 70% in those aged 50 to 59 years
• 64% in those aged 60 to 69 years
• 41% in those aged 60 to 79 years 

If you get shingles, the vaccine can also help reduce the severity of the symptoms and also the risk of developing post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the long-lasting nerve pain that follows shingles.

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