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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Chickenpox is the illness caused by a first infection; after recovery, VZV can remain dormant and reactivate years later as shingles. Vaccination changes the odds: chickenpox vaccine prevents most chickenpox and makes later shingles much less common than after natural infection, while Shingrix is designed to prevent shingles and its complications.
How chickenpox can lead to shingles
Chickenpox is the initial illness caused by VZV. Recovering does not remove the virus from the body: it can stay inactive and reactivate later as herpes zoster, commonly called shingles. Shingles often causes a painful rash. Risk increases with age, and a weakened immune system also raises the risk. CDC’s shingles vaccination guidance and its shingles overview describe this connection.
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About 1 in 3 people in the United States will have shingles in their lifetime, according to CDC. That is a population estimate, not a prediction for any one person.
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No. A person exposed to shingles does not catch shingles from that person. Someone who has never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine may acquire VZV from a person with shingles and develop chickenpox instead. CDC describes transmission through direct contact with fluid from shingles blisters and virus particles from the blisters. See CDC’s explanation of chickenpox and its transmission.
What chickenpox vaccination changes
The varicella vaccine prevents most chickenpox and almost all severe cases, according to CDC. A vaccinated person can still get chickenpox, but breakthrough illness is usually mild. Later shingles is also possible after vaccination, but CDC says it is much less common than after chickenpox disease. CDC’s Varicella Vaccine Information Statement explains that distinction.
U.S. chickenpox vaccine schedule
- Children are routinely recommended to receive two doses: at 12–15 months and 4–6 years.
- People aged 13 or older who have never had chickenpox or received varicella vaccine should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
These are U.S. CDC recommendations; eligibility and schedules may differ elsewhere. CDC’s chickenpox vaccination guidance covers the vaccine products, schedules, benefits, and precautions.
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How the two vaccines differ
Chickenpox vaccine and shingles vaccine have different purposes. CDC recommends Shingrix even for eligible adults who previously received varicella vaccine; having had chickenpox vaccine does not remove the need for age-appropriate shingles vaccination.
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| Vaccine | Main purpose | U.S. recommendation summarized here |
|---|---|---|
| Varicella vaccine (Varivax or MMRV/ProQuad) | Prevent chickenpox and severe disease | Two routine childhood doses; susceptible people aged 13 or older receive two doses at least 28 days apart. Source: CDC. |
| Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix/RZV) | Prevent shingles and related complications, including postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) | Two doses for adults aged 50 or older and adults aged 19 or older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed; usually 2–6 months apart. Source: CDC and CDC professional recommendations. |
Who should get Shingrix, and when?
In the United States, CDC recommends two Shingrix doses for adults aged 50 and older, as well as adults aged 19 and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed. For most people the doses are 2–6 months apart. In some circumstances for immunocompromised adults, the second dose may be given after 1–2 months. CDC’s professional recommendations provide the dosing guidance.
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Shingrix is recommended for eligible adults even if they have had shingles before, received the older Zostavax vaccine, or received varicella vaccine. After shingles, wait until the rash has gone away before vaccination; CDC does not specify a further required waiting period. Ask a healthcare professional about personal timing and precautions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much does Shingrix reduce risk?
CDC reports Shingrix effectiveness above 90% against shingles and PHN in relevant healthy adult age groups. Its age-specific estimates are 97% effectiveness against shingles among healthy adults aged 50–69 and 91% among healthy adults aged 70 or older. CDC reports 91% effectiveness against PHN among adults aged 50 or older and 89% among adults aged 70 or older. These are population-level estimates, not guarantees for an individual. CDC’s figures and qualifications also report 68%–91% effectiveness against shingles in adults with weakened immune systems, depending on the condition, and high immunity for at least seven years in adults aged 70 or older with healthy immune systems.
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Safety and precautions
Shingrix
CDC says not to receive Shingrix during pregnancy or while currently having shingles. A prior severe allergic reaction to a vaccine dose or component is also a reason not to receive it. If you have a moderate or severe illness, CDC advises waiting until recovery. Discuss individual contraindications, immune status, and timing with a healthcare professional. Details are in CDC’s Shingrix guidance.
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Varicella vaccine has different precautions from Shingrix. CDC says people with serious immune system problems should not receive it; pregnancy and certain immune-affecting conditions or treatments also require avoidance or clinical assessment. Do not apply Shingrix precautions to varicella vaccine, or vice versa. Consult CDC’s chickenpox vaccine guidance and Varicella Vaccine Information Statement for the relevant vaccine.
What this guidance means outside the United States
The schedules and recommendations above are U.S. CDC guidance. Vaccine availability, eligibility, and schedules can differ by country, so follow your local public health authority and clinician for advice where you live.
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