Question: My local drugstore is advertising the shingles vaccine. Is this shot worth getting?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
If you're over 50, the shingles vaccine may help you avoid getting shingles. And if you've had shingles, the shingles vaccine is still recommended to help prevent a recurrence.
The CDC recommends a single dose of the shingles vaccine for people 60 and older. Studies have indicated that the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by about 50 percent, and helps reducing nerve pain (post herpetic neuralgia). The nerve pain associated with shingles can be very severe, affecting the quality of life in such individuals
The shingles vaccine is a live virus vaccine and is not for immunosppressed individuals.
DO NOT get a shingles vaccine if you have:
a) A fever or current infectious illness.
b) HIV/AIDS or any other disease that affects the immune system.
c) Immune suppression or are taking chemotherapy for lymphoma or malignancy.
d) If you are or planning pregnancy within the three months after getting the shingles vaccine.