Should You Get the Shingles Vaccine at 50 — Or Wait?
A practical timing strategy for healthy adults deciding when to get the shingles vaccine.
On this page
Hook
You’ve just turned 50. You feel strong. Health markers are solid. Do you get the shingles vaccine now — or wait?
This isn’t about fear. It’s about timing.
Context
Most countries recommend shingles vaccination from age 50. In Australia, it’s publicly funded from 65.
The science is aligned. The debate is strategic:
When does protection matter most?
Two Rational Strategies
Strategy A — Vaccinate at 50
- Eliminates most risk in your 50s
- Accepts gradual waning later
Strategy B — Wait Until 60–65
- Aligns peak protection with highest complication risk
- Accepts moderate short-term risk
Neither approach is reckless.
🚨 Don’t Delay If…
If you become immunocompromised, start immune-modifying medications, or develop poorly controlled diabetes — vaccinate earlier.
Implications
Preventive medicine isn’t always yes-or-no.
Sometimes it’s about timing.
Healthy 50-year-olds can reasonably delay.
Higher-risk adults should not.
Further Reading
- /guides/shingles-vaccine-adults
- Australian Immunisation Handbook