What is the age for the shingles vaccination?

The FDA has approved the shingles vaccine, Zostavax, for people ages 50 and older, according to the CDC. Adults ages 60 and older should receive the vaccine.

All individuals who have experienced a case of chicken pox are at risk for contracting shingles, a painful outbreak of lesions caused by the chicken pox virus, which exists in a dormant state in the nerve roots for a lifetime after the disease subsides. Older people, however, typically suffer much more painful and damaging outbreaks of shingles, according to the CDC, making prevention more critical for this age group. Individuals who contract shingles after receiving the shingles vaccine typically experience a milder version of the condition, says the CDC.