6 Shingles Vaccine Facts You Should Know

6. Some people should avoid or delay getting shingles vaccines.

If you have a moderate or severe acute illness, you should delay getting a shingles vaccine, according to the CDC. (A minor illness, such as a cold, shouldn't prevent you from getting the vaccine.) Other contraindications for the vaccine include being pregnant or breastfeeding; having a history of allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of the vaccines; and having an active case of shingles. If you have a weakened immune system, take immune-suppressing drugs, or have cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system (such as leukemia or lymphoma), ask your doctor before getting the Shingrix vaccine.