Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccination

STIKO recommends vaccination against shingles (herpes zoster) for all persons aged 60 and above. There are further groups of persons who may require vaccination.

The inactivated vaccine is administered twice, with a minimum interval of 2 months and a maximum of 6 months between doses. A booster vaccination is not currently recommended.

The shingles vaccine is an inactivated vaccine. The vaccination is administered into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm.

Following vaccination against shingles, the stimulation of the body’s own immune defences very commonly leads to redness or swelling at the injection site, which can also be painful. General symptoms such as headache, fatigue, fever, or muscle pain may also occur during the first three days after vaccination. Itching at the injection site is also common. Occasionally, lymph nodes swell or joints become painful. Such vaccination reactions are generally short-lived and subside after one to three days.

To check whether you have vaccination protection, simply book an appointment for a vaccination status review at one of our avi practices and discuss this with our medical team. They will advise you in detail on whether you are already protected or whether you should receive a vaccination. The doctors will also check whether there are any further vaccinations that would be beneficial for you and, where appropriate, will administer these directly.