The recombinant zoster vaccine demonstrated approximately 97% protection against shingles in adults aged 50 and older in a large study (~15,000 participants). In addition, annual influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccine, and COVID boosters are routinely recommended for older adults. The evidence for the latter three is less precisely quantified than for the zoster vaccine.
Shingles is something many people underestimate until they experience it themselves or see it happen to someone close to them: weeks of intense pain along a nerve pathway, and in some people that pain lingers for months or years. The recombinant shingles vaccine (two injections) reduced the risk of shingles by approximately 97 percent compared with a placebo in a large, carefully designed study of more than 15,000 adults over the age of 50, and that protection held up at older ages as well. For a vaccine, that is exceptionally good.
There are side effects: a sore arm, some fatigue or muscle ache for a day or two are very common. Serious reactions are rare. You can arrange it through your GP or pharmacist; whether it is covered depends on your age and the programme in your country, so it is worth checking.
In addition to shingles, the annual flu shot, the pneumococcal vaccine and COVID boosters are the other vaccines recommended for older adults. The evidence for these is somewhat less straightforward to quantify than for shingles, but they are part of the standard recommendations. Which ones you need exactly, and when, depends on your age and health.
Strong evidence, based on 1 source(s), including controlled or causal research.