Can shingles be prevented?

Shingles can only be prevented if you never have chickenpox, or if you have very good immunity against the chickenpox virus (that is, against the varicella-zoster virus). Most people in the UK have chickenpox as a child. However, there is a vaccine against the varicella-zoster virus which has been used routinely in children in the USA since 1996. It is not given routinely in the UK. The vaccine has reduced the incidence of chickenpox in the USA. Time will tell if this has a knock on effect of reducing the incidence of shingles when these children are older.

Also, a trial of the vaccine given to people aged 60 was reported in 2005. The theory was that although these people will have had chickenpox when younger, the vaccine given at this age would boost the waning immunity against the virus. This may help to reduce the risk of developing shingles in older age. The result of the trial was very encouraging. It found that the number of cases of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia was reduced in those who were vaccinated compared to those not vaccinated. Further research is needed to determine the place of this vaccine in older people.