Shingles Vaccination for Seniors: Side Effects, Costs, and STIKO Recommendation for 2026
Shingles is a painful disease caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is also responsible for chickenpox. In people who had chickenpox in their youth, the virus lies dormant in their body and can reactivate later in life, leading to shingles. Shingles can affect people of any age, but older adults are particularly at risk due to their weakened immune system. This article looks at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of shingles and then discusses the importance of the shingles vaccination for seniors. What is shingles? Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a common...