Am I 100% protected by a vaccination? | How contagious is shingles?

Am I 100% protected by a vaccination?

The vaccination enables the immune system to recognize parts of the shingles pathogen and to produce antibodies in advance, which can prevent infection in advance in case of an infection. In the majority of cases a vaccination for shingles is reliable, but no vaccination provides 100% protection. This is due to differences in the virus and the immune responses of the individual vaccinated persons.

A virus can spontaneously mutate and change, so that the body’s antibodies no longer recognize it. Likewise, so-called “non-responders” can produce only weak antibodies, which cannot completely stop an infection. Especially in old age the vaccination against shingles is worthwhile in most cases, but a guarantee cannot be given.