One type of shingles vaccine, called the recombinant vaccine, reduces the risk of developing shingles more than the older live attenuated vaccine.

We analyzed the available evidence on shingles vaccines and found that the recombinant shingles vaccine appears to reduce the risk of developing shingles more than the older live attenuated vaccine. This conclusion is based on 55.0 supporting assertions and no refuting evidence in our current review [1]. The recombinant vaccine works by using a piece of the virus — not the whole virus — to trigger an immune response, while the live attenuated vaccine uses a weakened version of the virus. Because the recombinant vaccine doesn’t contain live virus, it may be safer for people with weakened immune systems, and early data suggest it offers stronger and longer-lasting protection against shingles. What we’ve found so far points to a consistent pattern across multiple assessments: the recombinant vaccine is associated with a greater reduction in shingles cases compared to the live version. This doesn’t mean the older vaccine is ineffective — it still provides some protection — but the newer version seems to offer a stronger benefit based on the numbers we’ve reviewed. We don’t yet know how long this difference lasts over decades, or whether it holds true for every age group or health condition. The evidence we’ve reviewed so far is limited to the assertions included in our dataset, and more data could emerge in the future. For now, if someone is considering a shingles vaccine, the recombinant option appears to offer a greater reduction in risk based on the current evidence.