Who should receive the shingles vaccine?

People who are 60 years old and older should get the shingles vaccine, as advised by the CDC. People who are allergic to gelatin, have a disease that affects the immune system, have undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer or are pregnant should not get the shingles vaccine.

While it is possible to experience mild symptoms when receiving the shingles vaccine, people generally only experience headaches, redness, swelling, soreness or itching on the injection side, according to the CDC. The shingles vaccine is only effective in preventing shingles and will not protect people from herpes or other forms of herpes.