I thought as well but it’s actually not that rare: Shingles Facts and Stats | Shingles (Herpes Zoster) | CDC
The rate in people aged 55–65 (6/1000) is “only” 4 times the rate in people aged 25–35 (1.5/1000). I thought it would be 10x or even 100x:
It’s actually increasing in young people (30–39yo) while it’s decreasing in people aged 70+ and plateauing in other groups. The rate in people aged 30–39 in 2019 was almost identical to the rate in people aged 50–59 in 1998!
JFC, you can’t catch a break!!!
I’m sorry to hear this. Sending hugs!!!
Well, old smallpox vaccines were initially used to help with monkeypox (mpox) when it started surging
But Jynneos is a new vaccine dedicated to mpox (and also works against smallpox). I see little harm in taking this and probably much easier to get this than some old smallpox vaccine.
Hmm, $300 for an old vaccine is not exactly what I would call cheap.
Well… it’s new.
But I agree $300 isn’t exactly inexpensive — but may be covered by many insurance companies.
Shingrix is $761 USD here in Hong Kong. Is that more or less expensive than other parts of the world?
In India it is about INR 12000 per dose (~USD 140) at the doctor’s office (I am planning on getting it next month when I travel to Chennai)
I already got mine as a kid, have a little scar to prove it 
The CDC currently recommends the vaccine for adults age 75 and older and at-risk adults ages 60 to 74.
“What’s swaying me is there clearly are people in that 50 to 59 years age group, for example lung transplant patients, …that would clearly benefit from having access to this vaccine,” Jane Zucker, one of the voting members of the panel, said ahead of the vote.
If the recommendation is adopted by the CDC, it would make about 30% of U.S. adults in that age group eligible for the RSV vaccine, according to panelist Michael Melgar.
I get an RSV shot every year. 20 USD and shots given out at my workplace.
They don’t want us to get sick.
This chart simply does not show that. While the rates are going up for all age groups, they are still relatively low in the 40’s.
As to your surprise that it’s not as great magnitude of risk as your expectations…… I don’t really know what to say— if 400% greater risk seems low to you.
Let’s talk RSV vax.
I am about to be 59 and my doc doesn’t advise it for me.
I can’t remember if you are older than I am, but is this something we are all getting?
I’m got the flu shot. RSV should also be good.
Show what? There are two facts that these graphs show:
So if you say “Young people are not at risk” based on your knowledge of the 90s, you’re wrong.
This chart in Sweden (that only starts in 2005, I’d love to see before) shows a similar trend:
The massive difference between young and old people is that shingles is still way worse among old people in terms of long-term pain (PHN):
By the way, that’s why the age for recommended vaccination has been decreased all over the world over the past decades:
Of course, the government cares about cost. They only make a decision if it is cost-effective for them in the short-term. Shingrix is approved from age 50 but there are ongoing trials looking at the efficacy on younger healthy people:
Given the increase in incidence in younger people, the good results showing long-term efficacy, and the ongoing trials, it’s pretty sure that in a few years the shingles vaccine will be recommended from an even younger age all around the world (40yo?).
hope you feel better soon 
