Second Dose reminder

What is shingles?

If you have had chickenpox, and that’s over 90% of adults over 50 years old in Canada, you’re at risk for shingles.

Shingles is a serious disease that commonly results in a very painful, blistering rash. It usually occurs in one part of the body and can last for several weeks. The pain can be severe, disabling, and interfere with normal day-to day activities.

Is the virus that causes chickenpox the same one that causes shingles?

Yes, chickenpox and shingles are both the result of the same virus called varicella zoster.

If you are like 90% of Canadians who have had chickenpox, your immune system may have been able to keep the virus under control. As we age our immune system naturally weakens, meaning the older you are the more likely it is that the shingles virus will reactivate.

What are some symptoms of shingles?

Shingles can result in a painful and blistering rash that can last several weeks. Other symptoms may include fever, headaches, vision problems, loss of hearing, sensitivity to touch, numbness and tingling.

These symptoms can lead to serious complications such as long-lasting nerve pain, which can last for months or years. The pain from shingles can be so intense that even walking, sleeping and social activities may become difficult.

Another symptom of shingles can be Ramsay Hunt syndrome (herpes zoster oticus), which occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near the ear. It can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear.

Are there early signs of shingles?

Shingles is recognizable by the way it looks and feels on your body. Early signs of shingles may include:

• Itching
• Burning
• Tingling with pain in the area where the rash will develop

You could feel some of these symptoms anywhere from one to five days before the rash even appears.

How common is shingles?

It is estimated that 1 in 3 people will develop shingles at some point in their lives.

Can shingles come back more than once?

Unfortunately, having shingles doesn’t prevent you from having shingles again. Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which may occur more than once.

What is SHINGRIX?

SHINGRIX is a two-dose shingles vaccine that has been available across Canada since the beginning of 2018.

SHINGRIX was shown to be over 90% effective at preventing shingles for people 50 years of age and older in clinical trials.

How effective is SHINGRIX?

In clinical trials, SHINGRIX was shown to be more than 90% effective at preventing shingles for people 50 years of age and older. As with all vaccines, SHINGRIX may not fully protect all people who are vaccinated. The need for booster doses following the primary vaccination schedule has not been established. Ask your doctor if you would like more information.

In patients who had undergone autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant and were followed for 21 months, SHINGRIX was demonstrated to be 68.2% effective in preventing shingles in people 18 years or older (71.8% in people 18 to 49 years and 67.3% in people 50 years or older). SHINGRIX also produced an immune response across different populations who are 18 years or older and at increased risk of shingles due to other immunocompromising conditions or immunosuppressive therapies.

Will SHINGRIX protect against chickenpox?

Though both shingles and chickenpox are a result of the varicella zoster virus, SHINGRIX is not for prevention of chickenpox.

Who should consider getting the shingles vaccine, SHINGRIX?

Anyone who has had chickenpox may get shingles, and the chance of getting shingles increases as you age, and/or due to factors that put you at risk of getting shingles, which can be different and diverse in individuals with different levels of immunosuppression (for example, underlying disease, the type, duration, and combination of therapy). SHINGRIX helps the body build its protection against shingles, regardless of increasing age. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends SHINGRIX for adults 50 years of age and older. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if SHINGRIX is right for you.

How many doses of SHINGRIX are required to maximize protection?

SHINGRIX is a two-dose shingles vaccine, with a gap of 2 to 6 months between doses. Based on your medical condition or planned treatments, your doctor may recommend that you receive the second dose 1 month after the first dose. When you get your first dose, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse to schedule your next one in order to make sure you receive both doses of SHINGRIX. This will maximize the protection offered by SHINGRIX.

What are SHINGRIX side effects?

Very common adverse events (>10% of doses) reported in clinical trials were pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, headache, stomach and digestive complaints, muscle pain, tiredness, chills, and fever. Most side effects were mild or moderate, lasting less than 3 days. Please speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse should you have any questions about shingles and shingles prevention.

Can SHINGRIX cause shingles?

SHINGRIX is a non-live shingles vaccine, which means there are no live components of the virus within the vaccine formulation. Therefore, it’s not possible to contract shingles from SHINGRIX.

Where can I get SHINGRIX?

SHINGRIX is a shingles vaccine that has been available across Canada since the beginning of 2018. To find a clinic near you that stocks SHINGRIX, please visit SHINGRIX.ca and use our clinic finder tool at the bottom of the page, or ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

What is the cost of SHINGRIX?

The cost of SHINGRIX varies by pharmacy. Please check with your local pharmacy for pricing. Some private insurers may cover all or part of the cost of SHINGRIX. Please contact your private insurer for more information on your coverage.

Is the cost of SHINGRIX covered in my province?

Provincial ministries of health are responsible for making decisions about the implementation and funding of public immunization programs. Please contact the Ministry of Health in your province directly for information.

Note: The following are the public health funding available in Canada as of September 21, 2023.

Do I need a prescription to get SHINGRIX?

In most but not all provinces, you will need a prescription to receive SHINGRIX. Depending on the province you live in, you can receive SHINGRIX from a doctor, or another healthcare professional such as a pharmacist or nurse. Speak to a healthcare professional in your province to learn more.