Would you recommend the shingles vaccine for a 22-year-old guy? It’s strictly for anti-aging purposes. To be honest, I’m really tempted.
Hi Cole,
As much as I cannot give you specific medical advice - I think that you likely have been immunized for VZV as a child and unless you actually had chickenpox - I’m not really seeing the Shingles vaccine would have any value - AT LEAST on the logic of this suppressing VZV as you’ll not have any in your body. If there comes forth data showing the shingles vaccine to provide such benefit in individuals who have never had VZV … which I’d be surprised by such a finding; then I’d change my view.
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There is some incidence among younger (30-39) populations and it’s increasing:
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Shingles is a clinical diagnosis - and I see a number of cases where clinicians call something shingles that isn’t. Irrespective, the issue is VZV native infection rate. The transition zone as vaccination started ~1995 is really to look at folks in their 20’s - and many of these with VZV natively weren’t immunized. So the point remains in a 22 year old, if no infection with VZV … then I question the benefit of this vaccine in any age, and the risk is low in that agegroup, but very high in those pre and peri-statrt of the Varicella Vaccine.
Summary of approximate % who have had natural chickenpox:
- Age ~20: ~5–15%
- Age ~30: ~20–40%
- Age ~60: ~95–99%+
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Personally, chicken pox at 5 years old (mild case). Shingles at 21 years old (likely stress related).
Now at 45 not yet eligible for shingles vax though I’d like to have it for both avoiding shingles again and for the dementia related risk reduction.
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Can this be understood as: based on the data, I can get vaccinated at age 30 instead, because the risk at 30 is similar to that in people over 50?
We can even infer the risk for people in their 20s is probably similar to that for those in their 30s. However, it has been proven that the current vaccine provides protection for at least 11 years, and model projections suggest it can offer effective protection for at least 20 years. The only concern is: if we wait until age 40–50 to get a booster shot, will the vaccine’s efficacy be weaker than the first dose?
Since you’re a zoomer get the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 if you haven’t already, that’ll reduce your lifetime cancer risk.
The shingles risk is double for 50+ compared to 30+. Yeah people get shingles in their 30’s.
This thread is good for all the vaccines and which ones you might be missing, and booster schedules: Vaccines for longevity
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