Is the shingles vaccine a live virus?

CDC recommends that people 60 years old and older get shingles vaccine (Zostavax®) to prevent shingles and PHN. Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) is the preferred vaccine, over Zostavax® (zoster vaccine live), a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Zostavax may still be used to prevent shingles in healthy adults 60 years and older. read more

Zostavax is a live vaccine and should not be given to individuals who have a weakened immune system caused by treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy or other medications that affect the immune system, or due to conditions such as HIV, leukemia, lymphoma or other cancers of the lymphatic system, blood, or bone marrow. read more

Zostavax is a live vaccine given as a single injection, usually in the upper arm. Shingrix is a nonliving vaccine made of a virus component. It's given in two doses, with two to six months between doses. The most common side effects of either shingles vaccine are redness, pain, tenderness, swelling and itching at the injection site, and headaches. read more