I'm just going to pop in here and say be careful if he doesn't end up having the vaccine. I had shingles in 2009 and it is one of the most painful, debilitating infections one can get.

If he has had the chicken pox already in life - I don't see why you would not - Shingles after 60 is debilitating and painful - not just while you have it but for the rest of your life.

But on the other hand not everyone gets shingles - you have to outweigh the risks of getting shingles to not getting it. I don't think its a blanket "no don't get it" answer. From what I read its quite a benign vaccine but it only lasts about 6 years.

Not sure whether people are aware, but the shingles vaccine is now available for people 50 and above (the vaccine was originally only available for 60 and up). A huge trial was conducted to see what the risks and benefits were for people between 50 and 60. My husband and I were both paid participants in the trial. We were both in our late 50's/.

It was clear from the get-go, that (although this was a double-blind trial) I received the vaccine and he did not. I got a large swelled, itchy area on my arm that lasted some 5-7 days (which is very unusual for me). Hubby got no reaction at all. Other than the rash, there were no untoward effects for me. At the end of the trial period, we each got a letter telling us whether we got the vaccine or not, and, sure enough, I did - and he didn't.

After seeing my mother (who was in "excellent health" at the time) suffer for years with shingles, I decided I wasn't going to get it if there was any way to avoid it. I know that the vaccine only reduces your risk, but if there's a chance your husband can be spared the agony of the shingles, he should take the vaccine.

we're all one car wreck away from a time of reduced health. In general, I think my immune system is in pretty good shape, but witawital says, "shit happens"

I would/will. The vaccine reduces the risk (according to clinical trials) by 50%. Even if they are fudging the numbers and it reduced the risk by 10%, I'd still get it since it appears the side effects/risks are low. They also say 1 Million people in the USA get shingles every year.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/shingles/vacc-need-know.htm#notGet-vaccine

From the CDC:

No serious problems have been identified with shingles vaccine.

The vaccine has been tested in about 20,000 people aged 60 years old and older. The most common side effects in people who got the vaccine were redness, soreness, swelling or itching at the shot site, and headache. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.

It is safe to be around infants and young children, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems after you get the shingles vaccine. There is no documentation of a person getting chickenpox from someone who has received the shingles vaccine (which contains varicella zoster virus).

Some people who get the shingles vaccine will develop a chickenpox-like rash near the place where they were vaccinated. As a precaution, this rash should be covered until it disappears.

The shingles vaccine does not contain thimerosal (a preservative containing mercury).

I look for vaccine ingredients. Without it, I wouldn't take it. Thimerosal isn't the only thing.

If you say he is of good health, I doubt it would be useful anyway with good nutrition. If his nutrition is not OK its worth considering.

As I wrote in comments...sorry for my original flippant answer, I will elaborate...

From Wikipedia (which I hate to use as a source, but its just a quick point) A 2006 study of 243 cases and 483 matched controls found that fresh fruit is associated with a reduced risk of developing shingles–people who consumed less than one serving of fruit a day had a risk three times as great as those who consumed more than three servings, after adjusting for other factors such as total energy intake. For those aged 60 or more, vitamins and vegetable intake had a similar association.

So, just 3 servings of fruit or vegetables in a day and you reduce risk quite significantly. I'm of the mind that no matter how inert we find a vaccine to be, it is still an intervention with risk, which should be measured against the prevalence and seriousness of the disease for which it supposedly reduces our risk of contracting.

The case studies for this vaccine show a reduced risk of %50...it really just does not seem high enough for me. If proper nutrition and lifestyle get my risks down to 1-3/1000 (not meant to be hard numbers, but a general extrapolation), then I'll just take my chances from there rather than topping off with a vaccine that may or may not get me down another 50%. Or if your grand kids, or any kids in your area get the chicken pox go hang out with them!(you get an immune boost right there %25 reduced risk). Of course many kids are vaccinated against this also these days, an issue that is actually quite relevant seeing as we would be naturally getting this immune boost from them rather than another vaccine.

Hubby is in "Excellent Health"...I would skip it. Even if he were to contract it, its of my mind those in better health would have a far more mild and self limiting version of the disease. Of course this is a heated topic, and like many here I have done a lot of reading on the subject. In the end you have to make the call, and either way wish you both the best.

shit happens. get it.