Shingrix® vaccine
Also known as shingles vaccine
Key points about Shingrix
- The Shingrix vaccine protects against shingles infection.
- You need 2 doses, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first.
- Find out about it and possible side effects.

Shingrix is a vaccine that can prevent you from getting shingles and, if you do get shingles, this vaccine can prevent you from complications of shingles including long-term pain.
- Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles later in life – 1 in 3 people will get shingles during their lifetime.
- Shingles can be very painful and your risk of getting it increases as you get older.
- The most serious complications are nerve pain that can last for months or years, and eye problems that can result in loss of vision.
- Read more about shingles.
In Aotearoa New Zealand the shingles vaccination is free:
- for 12 months once you turn 65 years of age. As long as you receive your first dose when you are 65, your second dose will still be free, even if you get it after you turn 66
- for certain people 18 years of age and over who are at increased risk of shingles because of a health condition or treatment. Read more about the eligibility criteria for immunocompromised people(external link).
Shingrix vaccine is recommended, but not funded for anyone from 50 years of age.
Shingrix is given as an intramuscular injection (injected into the muscle on your upper arm).
It's given as 2 doses, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first.
If you're immunocompromised, the time between doses can be reduced to 1 to 3 months.
As a precaution, it's recommended you have a space of 1 week between a shingles vaccine and the Arexvy® vaccine.
Shingrix should not be given to anyone who:
- has had a severe allergy (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of this vaccine, or a component of the vaccine
- currently has shingles.
If you have a minor illness, such as a cold, you can be vaccinated, but if you have a fever (temperature over 38°C) you should wait. Your healthcare provider can advise you on when to have it.
If you have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia or thrombocytopenia, intramuscular injections must be given cautiously. Check with your doctor if you're in this group.
Funded and unfunded shingles vaccines can be given by your nurse, doctor, healthcare provider, and some pharmacies. Find a provider near you by following this link to the Healthpoint website(external link) and entering your address.
- If you're eligible for a free vaccination, there won't be a cost for the shingles vaccine, but there may be an administration fee.
- If you're not eligible to get a free vaccination, you will need to pay.
- Pharmacists can administer Shingrix to people aged 50 years and over if they're trained as a vaccinator.
Remember, you need 2 doses of the Shingrix vaccine, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first. You may wish to schedule your appointment for the second dose after receiving the first, and put a reminder in your calendar.
Zostavax is the old brand of shingles vaccine and it was a single dose. Zostavax is no longer available.
If you've had Zostavax, or have had shingles recently, your immunity to shingles has been boosted. This reduces the chances of you getting it in the near future, so it's recommended that you wait at least a year before getting the Shingrix vaccine.
Some people with weakened immune systems, and who're risk of getting shingles, can get Shingrix sooner – from 3 months after a Zostavax vaccination or after having had shingles.
Shingrix® is not a live vaccine so it can't cause shingles.
- To provide good protection against shingles, you need 2 doses of Shingrix, with the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first.
- Having a single dose doesn't protect you adequately.
Note: There's evidence that the incidence of shingles (herpes zoster) is increasing in Aotearoa New Zealand and also that COVID-19 infection increases the risk.
Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
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Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
The following links have more information about Shingrix:
Shingrix(external link) The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ
Herpes zoster (shingles)(external link) The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ
Shingrix(external link) Consumer Information Medsafe, NZ
Brochures
Immunisation for older people(external link) HealthEd, NZ, 2022 Chinese (simplified)(external link), Chinese(external link), Cook Islands Māori(external link), English(external link), Hindi(external link), te reo Māori(external link), Samoan(external link), Tongan(external link)
Immunisation for older people (LARGE PRINT)(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2020
References
- Shingrix(external link) The Immunisation Advisory Centre, NZ
- Zoster (herpes zoster/shingles) recombinant vaccine(external link) New Zealand Formulary
- Recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine – what you need to know(external link) CDC, US
- Bhavsar A, Lonnet G, Wang C, et al. Increased risk of Herpes Zoster in adults ≥50 years old diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States(external link) Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2022;9(5):118
Brochures
Ministry of Health, NZ, 2020
HealthEd, NZ, 2022
Chinese (simplified), Chinese, Cook Islands Māori, English, Hindi, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Credits: Sandra Ponen, Pharmacist, Healthify He Puna Waiora. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
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