How much does the shingles vaccine cost?

As of 2015, the shingles vaccine can cost close to $300, depending on the health care provider, according to The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. This is expensive for a vaccine; for comparison, the flu vaccine costs $15, and the pneumococcal vaccine costs approximately $25.

The shingles vaccine, called Zostavax, is a one-shot vaccine approved for people age 60 and over, states The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. It reduces the chances of developing shingles by 50 percent. Vaccinated individuals who do develop shingles are 67 percent less likely to develop postherpetic neuralgia, a painful aftermath of shingles that can last for months or even years.