Shingles is a very serious disease that affects a large number of senior citizens. Protecting yourself from it requires getting a high-quality vaccination from a trusted medical professional. If possible, do it when you are younger to make it more effective.

It Can Happen At Any Time

Chickenpox is a disease that nearly everybody suffers from when they are very young. In fact, some estimates state that as many as 99 percent of all people under the age of 40 have suffered from chickenpox. Unfortunately, this means they are at a higher risk of developing shingles. This more serious variation of chickenpox occurs when the virus reactivates in the body.

Typically, symptoms of this recurrence occur in people over the age of 60. When it occurs, it can be very painful and even life threatening. That's why it is essential to get the vaccine as soon as possible. However, it is important to understand some of the risks behind it.

Shingles Vaccine Is A Live Version

Something that older people who are considering the shingles vaccine need to understand is that it is a live vaccine. This means that a living version of the virus is injected in the body. However, it is a very weakened one that won't cause any symptoms. The idea behind this process is that the body's immune system will attack the weakened virus and gain an immunity to it as a result.

Unfortunately, there are some cases in which shingles may occur after a vaccination. The chances of this occurring are very slim because the virus is so weak. In older people, it is typically more likely if they have a compromised immune system or otherwise suffer from some form of sickness. That's one reason why so many people get the shingles vaccine when young.

Doing It Young Can Be Beneficial

When at all possible, it is a good idea to get vaccinated for diseases like this when younger. There are many reasons for this act. First of all, it helps the body build up a stronger immunity from a young age. It also helps prevent the rampant spread of various infections throughout the body. When the immune system is stronger at a young age, a person is less likely to develop symptoms of shingles.

That said, anyone older than the typical vaccination age shouldn't consider it too late to get protected against shingles. It is a process typically covered by health insurance and almost perfectly safe. As a result, there is almost no reason that anybody over the age of 60 shouldn't consider the shingles virus before this disease affects their health.