The importance of shingles vaccination has been increasingly recognized, especially for the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, due to the potential for prolonged suffering from the disease, which can include scarring and long-lasting nerve pain. Shingles occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus, left from childhood chickenpox or vaccination, reactivates when a person’s immune system weakens, which is common in middle-aged and older adults. Even younger adults can experience shingles if they are under stress or have underlying health conditions that compromise their immune system.

In South Korea, individuals over 50 are recommended to receive the shingles vaccine, and there are two types available: a live vaccine (like Zostavax) requiring a single dose and an inactivated vaccine (such as Shingrix) requiring two doses spaced two months apart. Both vaccine types have proven effective, but they differ significantly in their formulation and implications for those with weakened immune systems. The live vaccine uses a weakened form of the virus, which can pose risks for immunocompromised patients, including organ transplant recipients and those undergoing chemotherapy, as their immune response may be inadequate to handle a live virus.

Conversely, the inactivated vaccine employs non-infectious parts of the virus or utilizes recombinant biotech methods, making it safer for individuals with compromised immunity. Hence, the inactivated vaccine can effectively provide protection without introducing risks associated with live attenuated viruses. The duration and effectiveness of shingles prevention may also vary between these two types, with the live vaccine simulating natural infection for immunity but potentially offering a lower preventive benefit compared to the inactivated vaccine, which is designed to induce a more robust immune response without the risk of live virus reactivation.