The biggest drop was between people born from 1991 to 1995 and those born from 1996 to 2000.<\/p>\n
FDA APPROVES FIRST-EVER MRNA FLU VACCINE FOR MILLIONS OF OLDER AMERICANS<\/a><\/p>\n “Shingles is caused by a virus that is harbored in the peripheral nerves \u2014 varicella-zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox \u2014 which can remain dormant and later reactivate, particularly during stress<\/a> or other decreased immune responses, resulting in a shingles risk,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n Shingles rates dropped sharply among younger U.S. adults, as the first generation eligible for routine childhood chickenpox vaccination is now in their late 20s. (iStock)<\/p>\n About 46 out of every 10,000 people in the older group were diagnosed with shingles, compared with just 17 out of every 10,000 in the younger group \u2014 a 62% decrease.<\/p>\n The study period was between January 2017 and June 2026, with the findings published on Oct. 2, 2026.<\/p>\n CANCER VACCINE PREVENTS DEADLY MELANOMA FROM RETURNING OR SPREADING IN LANDMARK TRIAL<\/a><\/p>\n Overall, shingles was found to be much more common in older adults<\/a>. About 182 out of every 10,000 people born between 1968 and 1975 were diagnosed with the condition, compared with just seven out of every 10,000 born between 2006 and 2008.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/p>\n “Shingles diagnoses rise steeply with age, but the newer signal is a sharp drop that begins with people who were eligible for the childhood chickenpox vaccine in the mid-1990s,” study author Kersten Bartelt, a research clinician in Verona, Wisconsin, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n “This is the pattern we would expect if childhood chickenpox vaccination lowers the risk of developing shingles later in life.”<\/p>\n About 46 out of every 10,000 people in the older group were diagnosed with shingles, compared with just 17 out of every 10,000 in the younger group \u2014 a 62% decrease. (iStock)<\/p>\n If the trend continues as vaccinated groups grow older<\/a>, it would suggest that childhood chickenpox vaccination could offer a lasting benefit in reducing shingles, “which is something continued follow-up and research will clarify,” Bartelt added.<\/p>\n Siegel agreed that this data aligns with previous research showing that by preventing the initial infection via the chickenpox vaccine (“or causing a very mild version of a live virus vaccine”) the risk of shingles is significantly reduced.<\/p>\n “This is the pattern we would expect if childhood chickenpox vaccination lowers the risk of developing shingles later in life.”<\/p>\n He noted that the vaccine uses a weakened form of the virus<\/a>, which is much less likely to reactivate later in life and cause shingles.<\/p>\n There were some limitations of the study, including that the researchers did not determine whether individual patients had actually received the varicella vaccination during childhood.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/a><\/p>\n “This is a descriptive, observational study, so it shows associations rather than cause and effect,” Bartelt said.<\/p>\n Healthcare disruption due to the COVID pandemic in 2020-2021 could have also affected diagnosis rates and skewed the results, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n A doctor noted that while people who received the chickenpox vaccine have a lower risk of developing shingles, he still recommends that eligible people get the shingles vaccine to further reduce that risk. (iStock)<\/p>\n Future studies are needed to confirm a link between childhood vaccination histories and long-term shingles outcomes.<\/p>\n “People should continue to follow established vaccine recommendations and talk with their clinician about the shingles vaccine when they’re eligible,” Bartelt advised. “It’s also a reminder that shingles can occur in younger adults, so anyone with a painful, blistering rash should seek timely evaluation.”<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/a><\/p>\n While people who received the chickenpox vaccine have a lower risk of developing shingles, Siegel said he still recommends that eligible people get the shingles vaccine to further reduce that risk.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/woman-back-neck-pain.jpg\")
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