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Over 90% of adults aged 50 and older have been exposed to the chickenpox virus,1* meaning most adults carry the virus that causes shingles. In fact, about 1 in 3 people are at risk of developing shingles in their lifetime.2*. If you are 50 years of age or older, your risk of getting shingles increases due to age-related decline in immunity,3,4 making it easier for the dormant virus to reactivate.3

Other risk factors of shingles include:

  • Chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and chronic kidney disease3,5
  • Other certain infections (e.g., HIV, COVID-19)3,5,6
  • Physical trauma and psychological stress3,7,8
  • A family history of shingles5
  • Having a weakened immune system due to a disease (e.g. cancer) or certain medications that weaken your immunity like steroids, after organ transplantation, and anti-cancer drugs3,5,9

*Based on US population data.

References:
1. Kilgore, P.E., et al. (2003). Varicella in Americans from NHANES III: Implications for control through routine immunization. Journal of Medical Virology, 70(Suppl 1), S111–118.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles facts and stats. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/data-research/index.html. Accessed 17 September 2025.
3. World Health Organization. Shingles (herpes zoster): Fact sheets. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/shingles-(herpes-zoster). Accessed 17 September 2025.
4. Weyand, C. M. & Goronzy, J. J. (2016). Aging of the immune system: Mechanisms and therapeutic Targets. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 13(Suppl 5), S422–S428.
5. Steinmann, M., et al. (2024). Risk factors for herpes zoster infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis unveiling common trends and heterogeneity patterns. Infection, 52, 1009–1026.
6. Bhavsar, A., et al. (2022). Increased risk of herpes zoster in adults ≥50 years old diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States. Open Forum Infectious Disease, 9(5):ofac118.
7. Thomas, S. L., et al. (2004). Case-control study of the effect of mechanical trauma on the risk of herpes zoster. British Medical Journal, 328(7437), 439.
8. Schmidt, S. A. J., et al. (2021). Perceived psychological stress and risk of herpes zoster: A nationwide population‐based cohort study. British Journal of Dermatology, 185, 130–138.
9. Chawki, S., et al. (2022). Incidence of complications of herpes zoster in individuals on immunosuppressive therapy: A register-based population study. Journal of Infection, 84, 531–536.

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