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Flu and Shingles Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Flu Vaccine		Shingles Vaccine
Flu causes fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle aches, and tiredness	THE ILLNESS	Shingles causes a painful rash with blisters
Some people develop serious complications, such as pneumonia	Complications	Some people have long-lasting skin and nerve pain even after the rash clears up
70 to 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in those ages 65 and older	Older Adults	The risk of getting shingles and having complications rises as you get older
Flu shots reduce flu-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths	THE VACCINE	A newer form of the vaccine, called Shingrix, is more than 90 percent effective at preventing shingles
All adults	Who Needs It	Adults ages 50 and older, even if you already had shingles before
Once every year, ideally by late October	When to Get It	Two doses, given two to six months apart*

*Shingrix is in high demand. This has led to shortages at times. Call ahead to see if it’s in stock. Put your name on a list if there’s a wait.