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If you’ve ever had chickenpox in your childhood, chances are you’re likely to develop shingles in the future.
While people might assume that shingles – a painful, blistering rash – only affects older adults, one in three adults who have had chickenpox are susceptible to it.
Here’s what you need to know about shingles and the vaccine.
Key Takeaways
Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox, known as the varicella-zoster virus. 1 out of 3 people of any age in the U.S. will develop shingles. The CDC recommends Shingrix, an FDA-approved shingles vaccine, to prevent shingles and related complications. Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans cover the shingles vaccine with no out-of-pocket costs.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.
When a person of any age gets the varicella-zoster virus, some of the virus remains dormant in central nerve cells. When the immune system is challenged by stress, the virus can reactivate as shingles.
Most commonly, shingles causes a painful rash that may appear as blisters across the stomach area. Sometimes, the shingles rash occurs around the eye, neck or face.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends Shingrix, a recombinant zoster vaccine.
While there is no cure for shingles, the Food and Drug Administration-approved Shingrix shingles vaccine can significantly prevent a shingles outbreak and a painful complication, called postherpetic neuralgia.
“The chance of getting shingles increases with age, which is why shingles........