Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Only someone who has had a case of chickenpox-or gotten chickenpox vaccine-can get shingles. The virus stays in your body. It can reappear many years later to cause a case of shingles.

Shingles is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It is also called Herpes Zoster. A shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and lasts from 2 to 4 weeks. Its main symptom is pain, which can be quite severe. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach. Very rarely, a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation or death. For about 1 in 5 persons, severe pain can continue even after the rash clears up. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia.

Shingles is far more common in people 50 and older than in younger people. It is also more common in people whose immune systems are weakened because of a disease such as cancer, or drugs such as steroids or chemotherapy. At least 1 million people a year in the United States get shingles.

Zostavax® vaccine manufactured by Merck was licensed in 2006. In clinical trials, the vaccine prevented shingles in about half of people 60 years of age and older. It can also reduce the pain associated with shingles.

Information sourced from CDC Shingles Vaccine Information Sheet (VIS/Interim) dated 9/11/06.