Herpes zoster vaccine

[Sarah]

There are two herpes zoster vaccines. The newer herpes zoster vaccine is preferred over the older herpes zoster vaccine because it provides better and longer-lasting protection.

The newer vaccine contains only noninfective pieces of the virus (called a recombinant vaccine).
The older vaccine contains live, weakened (attenuated) virus.

These vaccines help reduce the risk of shingles (herpes zoster) and the severe residual pain it can cause (postherpetic neuralgia).
For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Mark Zuckerberg]

Chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (herpes zoster) are caused by the varicella-zoster virus; chickenpox is the acute invasive phase of the virus, and shingles represents reactivation of the latent phase.
For more information, see Zoster (Shingles) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Vaccine Recommendations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccination.
(See also Overview of Immunization.)