These recommendations are true as of 2024. Please refer to organizations' guidelines like CDC and ACIP for updates. As we know, Chickenpox is the initial infection that affects mainly kids while Shingles (herpes zoster) is the reactivation that happen later in life which might come with series complications.
Although the two diseases are caused by the same virus, however, each disease has its own vaccine, and they can't be interchanged as there is no clinical evidence to support that one will work for the other.
Chickenpox vaccine is usually given as part of the MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella) vaccine but can also be given in a separate fashion. The chickenpox vaccine is 2 doses and are given in intervals depending on the age:
- Kids less than 6 years: the first given at age 12-15 months and the second dose given at the age 4-6 years.
- Kids 7-12 years old will get the two vaccines separated by 3 months.
- People older than 13 years old, if not vaccinated before, can get the two doses separated at least 28 days.
The virus is so contagious that unvaccinated people will almost certainly get the disease. This risk can be reduced by giving the vaccine within 3-5 days after exposure.
Shingles vaccine, the recombinant zoster vaccine, is recommended in 2 doses separated 2-6 months (or shorter if needed 1-2 months) regardless of previous history of disease or vaccination for:
- Immunocompromised people 18 years or older in age.
- Immunocompetent people 50 years or older in age.
If the second dose is given sooner than 4 weeks after the first, a second valid dose should be repeated at least 4 weeks after the dose that was given too early. The vaccine series does not need to be restarted if more than 6 months have passed since the first dose.
A recommended textbook in infectious disease is this 2-volume set.